PJM Selects Regional Transmission Projects to be Jointly Developed by Dominion Energy, American Electric Power, FirstEnergy
Regional grid operator PJM Interconnection has selected several electric transmission projects that will be jointly developed by Dominion Energy, American Electric Power Company through its Transource Energy affiliate and FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC across multiple states within the PJM footprint.
The companies jointly proposed the projects through PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) Open Window process in September 2024, and yesterday they were awarded by the PJM Board of Managers. PJM is the regional transmission organization that coordinates the transportation of wholesale electricity across the 13-state region that includes Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.
The companies will develop the projects through the recently formed Valley Link Transmission Company, LLC joint venture. The innovative collaboration will leverage the companies’ collective expertise and resources to deliver comprehensive and cost-effective solutions that address the region’s growing power needs.
After a lengthy review process, PJM determined the joint venture’s proposed projects, among others, best met the reliability needs of the grid. The projects will support economic development while ensuring every customer has the energy they rely on every day.
“These projects are essential for the economic vitality of our region, the reliability of our grid and the everyday lives of our customers,” said Ed Baine, President of Utility Operations and Dominion Energy Virginia. “These are comprehensive solutions needed to reliably serve the growing needs of our customers, and we thank PJM for their thorough review.”
“By leveraging the collective expertise of our three companies, we have the opportunity to build robust transmission facilities that will address documented reliability concerns on the regional power grid,” said Mark Mroczynski, President, Transmission at FirstEnergy. “While we’re in the very early stages, we look forward to engaging with communities and stakeholders in the months ahead to discuss the need for these projects and listen to the ideas and concerns of our customers.”
“AEP has decades of experience with projects of the size and scope needed to serve the unprecedented growth in energy demand,” said Bob Bradish, senior vice president, Regulated Infrastructure Investment Planning for AEP. “This joint venture is a unique solution to addressing the needs of our customers and ensuring long-term reliability and continued economic growth opportunities in the region.”
The selected projects include:
- Building approximately 260 miles of 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and two substations between Putnam County, West Virginia and Frederick County, Maryland.
- Building approximately 155 miles of 765-kV transmission line and a substation between Campbell County, Virginia and Fauquier County, Virginia.
- Building a new substation in Caroline County, Virginia.
The projects are in the early stages of development and do not have a firm time frame yet for permitting, regulatory approvals and construction. Following PJM’s recent awards, the companies will advance the development of project details, which includes assessing potential routes and conducting thorough environmental studies.
The companies are committed to collaborating with residents, local governments and other stakeholders in the project communities at every stage of the process. Community engagement is crucial for making informed decisions that reduce or prevent potential impacts.
In addition to the jointly developed projects, PJM selected several other transmission projects that will be developed individually by each of the three companies in their service areas.
PJM Interconnection | https://www.pjm.com/
Dominion Energy | https://www.dominionenergy.com/
American Electric Power | https://www.aep.com/
FirstEnergy | firstenergycorp.com