Battle over Loudoun County power lines heads to Virginia Supreme Court

I'm Stephanie Ramirez here at the news desk where we are shedding some more light on information learned because it is official. The battle over power lines in Loudoun County is now headed to Virginia's top court. We're learning in Loudoun County that the school board and homeowners association involved, they had officially filed an appeal. This is filed this week, taking the battle to Virginia's Supreme Court. And this battle, as we've been reporting, is over the 6.5 mile Golden to Mars transmission line project. This is a high-voltage transmission line that Dominion Energy wants to build through eastern Loudoun County. A big part of the issue is that it would run through neighborhoods, through school properties, paths that children take to school, as well as run by a popular trail. Those protesting have voiced environmental and safety concerns. The State Corporation Commission previously rejected a proposal to build underground and approved overhead lines. Loudoun Now is reporting that the county, the school board and the Loudoun Valley Estates Homeowners Association submitted petitions for appeal on Tuesday, listing several, quote, assignments of error or reasons that the court should overturn the SCC's decision, including that Dominion Energy didn't prove the line is needed or that the path chosen would avoid or reasonably minimize adverse impacts on those who live by the chosen transmission line route. Now, Dominion has responded multiple times that the line is needed to maintain reliable service to meet Northern Virginia's growing demand for electricity.