2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 56-585.1:5 and 58.1-3814 of the Code of Virginia, relating to pilot program for underground transmission lines; qualifying projects; levy; report.
[H 1487]
Approved
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 56-585.1:5 and 58.1-3814 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 56-585.1:5 . Pilot program for underground transmission lines; report.
A. There is hereby established a pilot program to further the understanding of underground electric transmission lines in regard to electric reliability, construction methods and related cost and timeline estimating, the probability of meeting such projections, and the benefits of undergrounding existing electric transmission lines to promote economic development within the Commonwealth. The pilot program shall consist of the approval to construct qualifying new electrical transmission lines of 230 , at least a portion of which have a capacity of 500 kilovolts or less (but greater than 69 kilovolts) and which are proposed to be constructed in whole or in part underground to the extent that any portion of such lines is located within one quarter mile of any area zoned residential ("qualifying project") . Such pilot program shall consist of a total of two four qualifying electrical transmission line projects, constructed in whole or in part underground, as specified and set forth in this section.
B. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, as a part of the pilot program established pursuant to this section, In reviewing any application submitted by a public utility for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction of an electrical transmission line of 500 kilovolts filed between January 1, 2025, and July 1, 2033, the Commission shall may approve such project as a qualifying project a transmission line of 230 kilovolts or less that is pending final approval of a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Commission as of December 31, 2017, for the construction of an electrical transmission line approximately 5.3 miles in length utilizing both overhead and underground transmission facilities, of which the underground portion shall be approximately 3.1 miles in length, which has been previously proposed for construction within or immediately adjacent to the right-of-way of an interstate highway. Once the Commission has affirmed the project need through an order, the project shall be constructed to be constructed in whole or in part underground , and the underground portion shall consist of a double circuit.