The Loudoun County School Board has scheduled a special meeting for July 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Rock Ridge High School to discuss a request from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. The request seeks authorization to use school property for alternative routes of Dominion Energy’s Golden to Mars transmission line project. The meeting follows a June 29 decision by the Virginia State Corporation Commission approving one route option.
County supervisors adopted a resolution on June 30 requesting the school board hold an emergency meeting before July 20 to consider the matter. The approved route avoids Loudoun County Public Schools property while alternative routes would cross it. School board officials stated they have not made a final determination and want to gather community input first.
Project Context and Regulatory Background
Dominion Energy’s proposed Golden to Mars line would carry 230-kilovolt and 500-kilovolt power through parts of Loudoun County. The lines would be supported by monopoles more than 150 feet tall. The State Corporation Commission concluded that the selected route was inferior in local impact but avoided school land.
Loudoun County documents indicate that Routes 3B and 4 have been viewed by many stakeholders as preferable if school property can be utilized. The school board has opposed overhead lines crossing its holdings in earlier considerations. A state law enacted in the spring allows for certain underground transmission pilot projects though the current proposal does not appear to fall under those provisions.
Meeting Logistics and Public Participation
The special meeting will take place at Rock Ridge High School at 43460 Loudoun Reserve Drive in Ashburn. The venue was selected partly because the surrounding school community may be affected by the routes. The session will be livestreamed and public comment periods are planned.
School board announcements note the importance of public discussion before any action. Residents can provide input through scheduled sign-up processes or online channels. The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Loudoun County School Board members including April Chandler, Anne Donohue, Deana Griffiths, Ross Svenson, Kari LaBell, Jonathon Pepper, Amy Riccardi and others are involved in reviewing the infrastructure proposal.
The meeting represents the next step in ongoing deliberations over the transmission line alignment. No final decisions have been reached by the school board at this time.
