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Morrisville - Wishing Star
500 & 230 kV Electric Transmission Project
Overview
The Morrisville–Wishing Star 500 & 230 Kilovolt (kV) Project is a vital infrastructure upgrade spanning Fauquier, Prince William, and Loudoun counties. The project includes:
- Installing a new 500 kV transmission line along or near 36.5 miles of existing right of way (ROW)
- Adding a new 230 kV transmission line in Fauquier County
- Expanding the Morrisville Substation
These improvements will strengthen our electric grid, improve efficiency, and ensure continued reliability.
Dominion Energy has proposed a primary route and evaluated several alternatives along the full route. We invite your input.
* Important Update: After continued evaluation, public feedback, and input, the three alternative routes previously identified in Loudoun County have been eliminated for consideration. View the updated announcement.
Access our interactive mapping tool, GeoVoice, and share your feedback.
Benefits
- Complies with mandatory standards to ensure safety, reliability and to meet future needs
- Minimizes impact to the community and environment
- Strengthens area reliability
What Matters To You?
Explore GeoVoice, an interactive mapping tool. You can:
- Search for your address
- Send comments to the project team
We want to hear from you. Sign-up Today.
Construction Methods & Right-of-Way
Both boring and trenching require a similar right-of-way width due to equipment access, safety buffers, and space needed for staging and spoil management.
While wreck and rebuild can be used in specific segments, constraints such as reliability requirements and existing infrastructure prevent its use along the entire corridor.
Dominion Energy is evaluating construction methods segment by segment and will consider wrecking and rebuilding where technically feasible.
Environmental & Visual Mitigation
Yes, undergrounding was considered; however, it presents significant technical, environmental, and cost challenges, particularly in historically sensitive areas like the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Need & Justification
The demand for reliable electricity has grown significantly since 2008, driven by regional load growth, including data center development. The new line addresses current and projected capacity and reliability needs.
Alternatives Analysis
Alternate “greenfield” routes are being considered in areas where wrecking and rebuilding or expanding the right-of-way would not be feasible due to existing development.
Yes, developing new greenfield routes often requires more land acquisition, permitting, and environmental review, making them generally more expensive and complex than expanding within an existing corridor.
Regulatory, Legal & Access Issues
Yes, conservation easements often include restrictions that limit development. Dominion Energy must evaluate these on a case-by-case basis and may require legal agreements or approvals to proceed.
Maps
- View the project map
- Conceptual Project routing as of Summer 2025
- Fauquier County M-WS Alternate Maps
- Prince William County M-WS Alternate Maps
- Loudoun County M-WS Alternate Maps
- Fauquier County Visual Simulations - June 2025
- Prince William County Visual Simulations - June 2025
- Loudoun County Visual Simulations -June 2025
Legal
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has regulatory authority over all energy providers in Virginia. Among other responsibilities, the SCC validates the need for a proposed line and approves the route and structures. In reviewing a proposed project, the SCC must consider whether potential impacts on scenic assets, historic districts and the environment have been reasonably minimized.
Once this project is submitted to the SCC, we will post our application and provide a link to the SCC’s case docket where you will find documents related to the case, as well as information on how to submit comments.
Meetings
COMPLETED VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEEETINGS
June 2, 2025
Virtual Open House
View the Presentation
May 5, 2025
View the Presentation
View Recording
COMPLETED IN-PERSON COMMUNITY MEETINGS
May 13, 2025
In-person Open House (Fauquier County)
Mary Walter Elementary
Bealeton, VA
May 15, 2025
In-person Open House (Prince William County)
Patriot High School
Nokesville, VA
May 21, 2025
In-person Open House (Loudoun County)
The Lodge at Hanson Park
Aldie, VA
Community Engagement
Public participation and involvement are vital to project planning and execution. At Dominion Energy we strive to improve the physical, social, and economic well-being of the communities we serve.
Public Engagement Process
Once a project need is identified, conceptual project planning and design begins. Dominion Energy consults with key stakeholders throughout the planning process to gather and incorporate feedback into design plans. Key stakeholders include local, county, and state officials, state and federal agencies, historic preservation and natural resource groups, Native American tribes, and community members.
Dominion Energy encourages all stakeholders to learn more about Fauquier County, Prince William County and Loudoun County Electric Transmission Projects and submit feedback. You can contact the project team by email at powerline@dominionenergy.com or +1 888-291-0190.
Documents
Construction-Related Impacts
Service Interruption
Your electric service is not expected to be impacted by this project.
Traffic
This project is not expected to impact traffic.
Noise
Noise levels will be moderate; permits are in place.
Environment
This project may have limited environmental impacts.
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