Dominion Energy is forecasting that it will need to supply approximately 13 gigawatts of additional electric energy over the next 15 years to meet the ongoing expansion of data center facilities in Northern Virginia, according to recent reporting in the Richmond Times-Dispatch and analysis by the Piedmont Environmental Council. To put those numbers in context, the Times-Dispatch equates 1 megawatt to the power needed for 250 homes. By that calculation, a gigawatt (1,000 megawatts) would power 250,000 homes and 13 gigawatts is the energy capacity required for 3.25 million homes. As another reference point, there were approximately 3.685 million housing units in the entire state of Virginia in 2022 according to the US Census — so the electric energy needs outlined in Dominion Energy’s data center forecast are comparable to doubling the residential population of the entire state of Virginia.
According to the US Energy Information Association (EIA), Virginia’s current electricity use exceeds its total in-state generation capacity, requiring high-voltage transmission lines to deliver energy generated elsewhere to supply the needs of Northern Virginia’s expanding data center industry. The regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection, is tasked with keeping the electricity transmission system in balance by connecting generation facilities with the demand. In response to Dominion Energy’s forecast, PJM is proposing to construct a new 500 kV transmission line through Jefferson County by 2027. The new line would be built alongside the existing 500 kV line.
The PJM Interconnection Management Board will be meeting on December 11 to review this proposal. The deadline for citizen comments to be included in the board packet for that meeting is December 4 at 5 pm. Comments may be emailed to david.anders@pjm.com (the correspondence should clearly indicate that it is addressed to the PJM Interconnection Board of Managers, not Mr. Anders).
Additional resource listed below the graphic.
Additional Resources
Piedmont Environmental Council (website)
Local Citizens group (Facebook page) PJM Interconnection Proposal 2023
Local Citizens group (website): StopPathWV.com
By Steve Pearson