Valley North Transmission Line Project Moves to Route Selection Phase

The Valley North Project involves the construction of approximately 260 miles of new 765-kilovolt transmission lines connecting Putnam County, West Virginia, to Frederick County, Maryland. Valley Link Transmission, formed as a joint venture by Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission, and Transource Energy, will also build two new substations, one in Hardy County, West Virginia, and another in Frederick County, Maryland. The initiative seeks to deliver electricity to areas of growing need and support broader opportunities for communities along the proposed corridor.

Electric demand in the region is expected to double over the next decade amid factors including population growth, expanding industries, power plant retirements, and advanced manufacturing activities. The project is intended to provide more reliable and affordable electricity to residences, medical facilities, educational institutions, and commercial establishments. It would also expand capacity on current power lines to alleviate congestion that contributes to service interruptions.

Additional goals include enhancing the overall resilience of the energy system to better handle severe weather events and other disruptions. Valley Link has incorporated public comments, technical specifications, and environmental factors to refine the study area for potential routes. Twelve open houses are scheduled for November to allow residents to review options and provide input, with a preferred route identification targeted for early 2027.

Economic analyses associated with the project suggest potential for hundreds of local construction positions, heightened local commerce at dining and retail venues, elevated property tax collections, and continued funding for public services such as emergency response, libraries, and health care. Infrastructure spending of this nature is described as generating multiplier effects in surrounding economies. Feedback mechanisms include an interactive map on the project website, direct email correspondence, and telephone options.

The effort stems from selection by PJM Interconnection as part of regional transmission planning focused on long-term system reliability and capacity needs. No specific customer or end-use has been designated for the line. Updated mapping resources for various counties along the corridor have been made available to support public review and comment submission.

Project documentation highlights the scale of investment required and the timeline for ongoing community involvement ahead of final decisions. Residents and stakeholders in affected areas across West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland have access to detailed materials outlining proposed structures and alignment options.

https://vltransmission.com/valley-north/#map