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Opposition is mounting to Dominion Energy’s proposal for a 176-megawatt substation and associated 230-kilovolt transmission line intended to serve Starwood Capital Group’s planned Plaza 500 South data center in Lincolnia.
The Fairfax County application, numbered 2232-2025-MA-00007, would connect the proposed Edsall Road substation with the existing Van Dorn substation. The substation remains under county review, while the State Corporation Commission has approved the transmission lines between the two substations.
Residents and a coalition of 33 civic and environmental groups have urged county officials to recommend denial. Rep. Don Beyer also asked the Fairfax County Planning Commission to reject the application in a July 30 letter.
“As such, I respectfully request the Commission deny the Application,” Beyer wrote.
More than 100 residents attended Dominion’s July 28 presentation to the Mason District Land Use Advisory Committee, where about 30 speakers discussed potential quality-of-life, health, environmental and property-value effects, according to the supplied reporting. Opponents say the proposed substation would be 67 feet from the nearest residential use, identified as the Ridges at Edsall townhouse community. That distance and related comparisons with county setbacks have not been independently verified in the reporting provided for this draft.
Dominion said its design briefing covered equipment footprints, height, screening and noise compliance. Aisha Khan, speaking for Dominion Energy, said the company evaluates infrastructure needs as part of requests for new electric service.
“As with any request for new electric service, we evaluate what infrastructure may be needed to continue providing safe and reliable electric service,” Khan said.
Alis Wang, an opponent, said the presentation did not resolve basic questions from residents. “Dominion’s presentation was lacking in detail and left many basic questions from the public unanswered,” Wang said.
The substation is tied to Starwood’s Plaza 500 data center development. The first proposed building is described as a 75-foot-tall, 226,469-square-foot structure on a 34-acre site. Starwood filed permit plans for that building July 16; the plans remained pending. The data center development is described as permitted by right under existing light industrial zoning, while the substation is subject to Fairfax County’s public-facilities review under Virginia Code § 15.2-2232(B).
Tyler Ray said he and neighbors began organizing opposition after learning in 2022 about potential data center development at Plaza 500. Starwood submitted a site plan in 2024, according to Ray.
“My big takeaway was the community is active and aware and paying attention,” Ray said. He added, “This is clearly not something that the community supports or thinks is consistent with the county comprehensive plan.” Whether the proposal is consistent with the county’s Comprehensive Plan remains for the Planning Commission to determine.
The Mason District Land Use Committee is scheduled to make a formal recommendation Sept. 22. The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a 7 p.m. public hearing and vote Sept. 24.
If the commission denies the application, Dominion Energy or the applicant may appeal to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors within 10 days. The board may overrule the decision by majority vote.