I am commenting to request that you vote to OPPOSE the Valley Link North Transmission Line Project in Frederick County. I am a life long resident of Frederick County. Third generation farming family. This project will separate my family farm, that will soon be a Century Farm, down the middle. It will deface my beautiful, God created, views that I value so much. It will devalue my property. It will effect my neighbors, my community, and my county. It will effect me financially (your tax payer). It will not add any value to Frederick County what so ever and will not benefit the county in any way. I implore you to vote to oppose this project and to send a clear message to Valley Link, The SCC and to the State House and Senate that this project is not in the best interest of our community or our state.
Pamela Kingree Foltz
Back Creek District and Gainesboro District
I join the chorus of Frederick County citizen voices opposing the Valley North Transmission Line Project. The letter prepared by Staff for the Board is far too mild and does not adequately reflect the strong opinions of the Board’s constituents. These concerns include:
Visual impacts. The proposed line would use 765-kV transmission towers that may exceed 150 feet in height. These structures would permanently alter our beautiful rural landscapes and scenic views.
Environmental impacts. A wide transmission corridor would require extensive forest clearing resulting in habitat fragmentation, impacts to streams and wetlands, and irreparable effects on wildlife.
Quality of life. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors have heard repeatedly about changes to the rural character caused by increased construction activity and the visual presence of large utility infrastructure. Please protect the reasons we have either recently moved to the county or the reasons that our families have resided here for generations.
Questions about who benefits. This project primarily serves growing electricity demand associated with data centers and population growth elsewhere in the region, while our local communities bear most of the negative impacts.
The proposed letter needs to be revised to better reflect the strong preference of our citizens to oppose data center and ancillary support systems like the North Valley Transmission Line Project.
Gainsboro. Thanks Mr. Aiken for responding.
Please add Honey Bee Pollinating to your list of impacts from the Valley Link Project.
Please consider debating alternate solution with Maryland, a moth balled power plant in Cumberland MD in 2024.Keep it in Maryland.
Health Risks
If map 1085 is approved, Ashland Drive would be positioned between two major high voltage power lines, creating an intensified EMF field with unknown long term health effects. Several homes, including mine, are only a few hundred feet from these towers. Valley Link has provided no data or precedent for a parallel power line configuration of this nature and its impact on human health.
Harm to Local Agriculture and Small Business(Beekeeping)
I operate a honey beekeeping business that supports pollinating agriculture at the Homestead Farm Market and the Kysela property, in addition to selling honey products through other venues. These hives are essential to my business, and their loss would directly reduce revenue for all of these operations. Bees avoid EMF fields, and the triangle formed by the proposed transmission lines would eliminate roughly 80% of their forage area. They will fly away from the EMF zone. Bees are highly sensitive indicators of environmental harm — they instinctively avoid dangerous conditions. This project would devastate my operation and remove a valuable contributor to local agriculture.
Severe Reduction in Property Values
Property located within a triangle of high voltage power lines is widely known to lose substantial value. Residents along Ashland Drive would bear the financial burden while receiving no benefit.
Loss of Scenic Views and Community Character
I live in this valley for its open sky and natural beauty. Under the proposed plan, six massive transmission towers would dominate the landscape. Every evening I look west and remember watching thousands of sunsets with my father. This project would permanently destroy that experience for me and for many others.
I respectfully request the proposed letter regarding the Valley Link project NOT be sent as written based on a lack of strong language and no references to the existing County Comprehensive Plan. The letter must be revised.
Referring to this specific part of the letter: “The Board of Supervisors demands and expects as the project moves forward ....the project.”
This statement should be expanded to include the fact that the project doesn’t adhere to the Frederick County 2035 Comprehensive Plan (CCP).
Chapter 7 - Natural Resources covers many concerns.
Water Quality Goals and Strategies section cites non point source (NPS) pollution that would be an issue with clearing sites for the transmission towers on slopes above and near streams and wetlands due to the increased runoff and erosion. This directly affects Sensitive Natural Areas: floodplains and steep slopes in the proposed path of the transmission lines. Directly from the CCP “Minimal disturbance of natural vegetative cover, in particular forest cover should be encouraged versus replant requirements.”
Appendix I - Area Plans, Southern Frederick Area Plan, NATURAL RESOURCES, HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES section cites concerns that should be addressed in the context of the letter. Specifically, requirements for studies of endangered species: plants, animals and insects. Watershed, wetlands, streams, riparian areas, etc. are are of special concern.
The County Comprehensive Plan, Appendix I - Area Plans, Eastern Frederick County Long Range Use Plan map shows environmentally sensitive areas throughout the proposed path from south of Route 277 heading north to Route 50.
Further, I implore the Board of Supervisors look at the example of how Culpepper County is approaching issues via resolution. Reference: County of Culpepper Virginia Board of Supervisors Resolution 2026-04-01
**I could not attach the resolution See: https://web.culpepercounty.gov/community/page/immediate-press-release-4172026
I am commenting to request that you vote to OPPOSE the Valley Link North Transmission Line Project in Frederick County. I am a life long resident of Frederick County. Third generation farming family. This project will separate my family farm, that will soon be a Century Farm, down the middle. It will deface my beautiful, God created, views that I value so much. It will devalue my property. It will effect my neighbors, my community, and my county. It will effect me financially (your tax payer). It will not add any value to Frederick County what so ever and will not benefit the county in any way. I implore you to vote to oppose this project and to send a clear message to Valley Link, The SCC and to the State House and Senate that this project is not in the best interest of our community or our state.
Pamela Kingree Foltz
Back Creek District and Gainesboro District
I join the chorus of Frederick County citizen voices opposing the Valley North Transmission Line Project. The letter prepared by Staff for the Board is far too mild and does not adequately reflect the strong opinions of the Board’s constituents. These concerns include:
Visual impacts. The proposed line would use 765-kV transmission towers that may exceed 150 feet in height. These structures would permanently alter our beautiful rural landscapes and scenic views.
Environmental impacts. A wide transmission corridor would require extensive forest clearing resulting in habitat fragmentation, impacts to streams and wetlands, and irreparable effects on wildlife.
Quality of life. The Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors have heard repeatedly about changes to the rural character caused by increased construction activity and the visual presence of large utility infrastructure. Please protect the reasons we have either recently moved to the county or the reasons that our families have resided here for generations.
Questions about who benefits. This project primarily serves growing electricity demand associated with data centers and population growth elsewhere in the region, while our local communities bear most of the negative impacts.
The proposed letter needs to be revised to better reflect the strong preference of our citizens to oppose data center and ancillary support systems like the North Valley Transmission Line Project.
Bill Moore
Opequon District
Gainsboro. Thanks Mr. Aiken for responding.
Please add Honey Bee Pollinating to your list of impacts from the Valley Link Project.
Please consider debating alternate solution with Maryland, a moth balled power plant in Cumberland MD in 2024.Keep it in Maryland.
Health Risks
If map 1085 is approved, Ashland Drive would be positioned between two major high voltage power lines, creating an intensified EMF field with unknown long term health effects. Several homes, including mine, are only a few hundred feet from these towers. Valley Link has provided no data or precedent for a parallel power line configuration of this nature and its impact on human health.
Harm to Local Agriculture and Small Business(Beekeeping)
I operate a honey beekeeping business that supports pollinating agriculture at the Homestead Farm Market and the Kysela property, in addition to selling honey products through other venues. These hives are essential to my business, and their loss would directly reduce revenue for all of these operations. Bees avoid EMF fields, and the triangle formed by the proposed transmission lines would eliminate roughly 80% of their forage area. They will fly away from the EMF zone. Bees are highly sensitive indicators of environmental harm — they instinctively avoid dangerous conditions. This project would devastate my operation and remove a valuable contributor to local agriculture.
Severe Reduction in Property Values
Property located within a triangle of high voltage power lines is widely known to lose substantial value. Residents along Ashland Drive would bear the financial burden while receiving no benefit.
Loss of Scenic Views and Community Character
I live in this valley for its open sky and natural beauty. Under the proposed plan, six massive transmission towers would dominate the landscape. Every evening I look west and remember watching thousands of sunsets with my father. This project would permanently destroy that experience for me and for many others.
I respectfully request the proposed letter regarding the Valley Link project NOT be sent as written based on a lack of strong language and no references to the existing County Comprehensive Plan. The letter must be revised.
Referring to this specific part of the letter: “The Board of Supervisors demands and expects as the project moves forward ....the project.”
This statement should be expanded to include the fact that the project doesn’t adhere to the Frederick County 2035 Comprehensive Plan (CCP).
Chapter 7 - Natural Resources covers many concerns.
Water Quality Goals and Strategies section cites non point source (NPS) pollution that would be an issue with clearing sites for the transmission towers on slopes above and near streams and wetlands due to the increased runoff and erosion. This directly affects Sensitive Natural Areas: floodplains and steep slopes in the proposed path of the transmission lines. Directly from the CCP “Minimal disturbance of natural vegetative cover, in particular forest cover should be encouraged versus replant requirements.”
Appendix I - Area Plans, Southern Frederick Area Plan, NATURAL RESOURCES, HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND PUBLIC FACILITIES section cites concerns that should be addressed in the context of the letter. Specifically, requirements for studies of endangered species: plants, animals and insects. Watershed, wetlands, streams, riparian areas, etc. are are of special concern.
The County Comprehensive Plan, Appendix I - Area Plans, Eastern Frederick County Long Range Use Plan map shows environmentally sensitive areas throughout the proposed path from south of Route 277 heading north to Route 50.
Further, I implore the Board of Supervisors look at the example of how Culpepper County is approaching issues via resolution. Reference: County of Culpepper Virginia Board of Supervisors Resolution 2026-04-01
**I could not attach the resolution See: https://web.culpepercounty.gov/community/page/immediate-press-release-4172026