Varina Area Substation: Increasing Reliability and Meeting Demand

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Joanna Craig
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1 Varina Area Substation: Increasing Reliability and Meeting Demand Critical Infrastructure to Provide Safe, Reliable Power Dominion Virginia Power

2 Varina Area Substation Project Welcome Overview of Power Supply to Varina Area Explanation of Need for New Substation Location Selection Criteria Alternatives Considered Visibility Site Mitigation Other Concerns (EMF & Property Values) Approval Process & How to Stay Involved Questions

3 Overview of Power Supply in Varina Area

4 * ** *Includes Solar Power generation facilities **Proposed Facility

5 Current coverage for Distribution Circuit 316

6 Impact on Varina Residents Decreased Reliability Almost 5,000 Varina customers are currently served by Circuit 316 There are significant circuit miles between the Turner substation and residents in the western parts Varina Leads to greater exposure and more frequent outages Over the last 3 years, customer outages have occurred more frequently than the system average Some residents in the western parts of Varina experienced over 6X the system outage average

7 Impact on Varina Residents Increasing Load & Redundancy Circuit 316 is currently operating beyond capacity Rerouting is a temporary solution that is nearly exhausted When an outage occurs, power can be rerouted from another circuit, so long as it has capacity Rerouting options to get the lights back on are more limited, particularly on peak load days (hot summer days, cold winter nights) Ensuring existing load demand can be met is Critical. Solution must be implemented now, to plan for the future.

8 Energy Use Impact on Varina Residents Increasing Load Even without new development, load demand in the area increases 2.5% annually *North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is the electric reliability organization certified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to establish and enforce reliability standards for the bulk power system.

9 Solution: New Substation to Serve Varina Load Area To increase reliability To alleviate current load demand on Circuit 316 To allow re-routing options for restoration To meet future power demand

10 Necessary Criteria 1. In load area 2. Adjacent to existing Transmission Line 3. Minimize impacts on surrounding properties Existing Transmission Lines

11 Initial Sites Considered

12 Initial Sites 1. Corner of Rockingham/Rt Messer Rd across from John Rolfe M.S. 3. At end of Rockingham St Osborne Turnpike (old Vulcan quarry) Reason(s) Rejected 1. On Rt. 5 & highly visible 2. Visible from John Rolfe M.S. & outside Load Area 3. High visibility & Civil War Trenches

Alleviates load demand on Circuit 316 Addresses Reliability and Load Concerns for Area Closest neighbor approximately 460 feet away Greatly hidden by

13 Alleviates load demand on Circuit 316 Addresses Reliability and Load Concerns for Area Closest neighbor approximately 460 feet away Greatly hidden by man made berm and mature vegetation Easily integrated into existing Distribution Network Osborne Site Transmission Taps Site 325 setback Access Road Berm

14 Coverage Area for Proposed Varina Substation

15 Community Input Consider Additional Alternative Sites Outside of Route 5 Corridor Darbytown Road Same site further off Osborne

16 Additional Alternatives Considered

17 All Viable Parcels on Transmission Line considered First Sites Considered Other Sites on Transmission Corridor Remaining Viable Site

18 Alternative Sites Rejected Owners would not sell Outside of Load Area Fully visible to surrounding area Lots too small Environmental limitations Flood zone Terrain Riverbank

19 Darbytown Alternative East End Landfill Nabisco

20 Darbytown Alternative: Impact on Surrounding Area Proposed Pole Wetlands Primary Overhead Transmission Proposed Double Circuit Pole Line Existing Gas Line

5 miles Located within 50-75 of existing residences in Darbytown

21 Darbytown Alternative Requires new double circuit Distribution Line for approximately 2.5 miles Located within of existing residences in Darbytown Meadows subdivision 31 houses on Blossom View Lane directly impacted Outside Load Area Limited capacity to serve load

22 Osborne Alternative: Impact on Surrounding Area Transmission Lines Proposed Underground Distribution Lines Proposed Overhead Distribution Lines Proposed Pole Primary Overhead Primary Underground Transmission Proposed Double Circuit Pole Line Proposed Underground Line

23 Viewshed Elevations

24 Viewshed Vantage Points Linear Feet 725 Linear Feet

25 Original Site Location Existing (above) & Proposed (below) Views at 325 from Osborne Turnpike Southbound (Viewshed 1)

26 Original Site Location Existing (above) & Proposed (below) Views at 325 across Osborne Turnpike (Viewshed 2)

27 Original Site Location Existing (above) & Proposed (below) Views at 325 from Osborne Turnpike Northbound (Viewshed 3)

28 Comparison of Original Site and Alternate Site 325 above, 725 below off Osborne Turnpike (Viewshed 1)

29 Comparison of Original Site and Alternate Site 325 above, 725 below Views from across Osborne Turnpike (Viewshed 2)

30 Comparison of Original Site and Alternate Site 325 above, 725 below Views from across Osborne Turnpike (Viewshed 3)

Site Mitigation No substation expansion within 275 feet of Osborne Turnpike All existing vegetation retained and undisturbed except for: o Proposed access o Areas of existing or new overhead or

31 Site Mitigation No substation expansion within 275 feet of Osborne Turnpike All existing vegetation retained and undisturbed except for: o Proposed access o Areas of existing or new overhead or underground electric lines o Any danger trees o 20-foot clear area outside the fence Landscape Plan to visually obscure the substation equipment o Additional landscaping in front & side yard setbacks o Additional landscaping on the existing berm

32 Other Items of Discussion: EMF, Sound, Property Values & Security

33 Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) EMF is naturally present everywhere in the environment. For more information about electromagnetic fields, visit search: EMF

34 Property Values Based on Many Factors Location Age Maintenance Economy

increased 104% For other existing houses Houses ½ mile away increased

35 Sample Property Values Near Substation (1992*-2015) Substation built in 1991 Closest House, built from substation Assessed value increased 104% For other existing houses Houses ½ mile away increased 98% Houses ¾ mile away increased 94% *Property Assessment Data begins 1992

36 Sound Sound inside substation measured at 70 dba o Equivalent to normal speech at 3 feet o Sound decreases over distance o Would be inaudible at 200 feet from Osborne Turnpike Berm & mature vegetation would also minimize sound

37 Security Substation would have gated fence locked at all times. Fence is 8 feet high with 1 additional foot of barbed wire. Site also monitored with security cameras. Real time monitoring around the clock

38 Approval is a Two Step Process 1. A. The Substation must be found by the Planning Commission to be substantially in accord (SIA) with the County s adopted Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing B. The Board of Supervisors must agree with the Planning Commission s finding Public Hearing 2. The Substation must then receive a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) Public Hearing Would only occur if SIA is approved

39 * Dedicated Dominion VA Power outreach - powerline@dom.com * Project website * Regular mailed/ ed project updates More information on this project can be found at keyword: Varina

40 Questions?

Proposed Boykins Substation Microwave Tower May 31, 2017

Proposed Boykins Substation Microwave Tower May 31, 2017 Summary: Dominion Virginia Energy is seeking approval for a Conditional Use Permit and a setback variance to install a wireless communication tower