Media Contact
Donna Brutkoski
dbrutkoski@gpisd.net
612-491-8334
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2025
Opening existing rights-of-way to transmission can help U.S. data center hub build a cheaper, cleaner grid
Virginia, home to the world’s largest hub of data centers, is at the epicenter of growing concerns about the cost of energy to households and businesses. Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger made lowering electricity prices a key plank in her campaign, and her incoming administration is planning a comprehensive approach to increasing the Commonwealth’s energy independence and making electricity more affordable.
To take full advantage over time of its home-grown energy resources, including the wind farms being built off Virginia’s coast, the Commonwealth will need new electric transmission lines. One solution to building transmission as quickly and affordably as possible, while protecting private property and avoiding overdevelopment, is to consider co-locating projects in existing rights-of-way — such as along interstate or state highways.
Currently, however, Virginia restricts the co-location of transmission along many major highways. Today, the NextGen Highways initiative is launching a coalition of Virginia stakeholders to work toward removing the policy barriers to this common-sense option for modernizing the grid.
“Electricity customers in Virginia are feeling squeezed, and they need every option on the table for reducing costs and ensuring that their power system will serve them reliably,” said Randy Satterfield, NextGen Highways’ executive director. “Co-locating transmission in existing rights-of-way can help Virginia build what’s needed without encroaching on communities’ concerns about overdevelopment.”
Gov.-elect Spanberger’s Energy Affordability Plan calls for addressing regulatory issues to speed up timelines for electricity projects, and co-location of transmission in existing rights of way is one simple solution to this challenge. Co-location can allow Virginia to benefit from a streamlined permitting process and reasonable fees for use of existing rights-of-way, saving ratepayers money while protecting agricultural and recreational land. Over time, co-location of transmission can also help develop electric vehicle charging hubs and modernized communications networks across the Commonwealth.
“Co-location of transmission lines along existing highways is a common-sense solution to help meet the Commonwealth’s growing energy demands, save ratepayers money, and get the most out of our existing infrastructure,” said Garrett Gee, a senior attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center, a member organization of the NextGen Highways Virginia coalition. “By focusing on existing rights of way, we can preserve public and private lands and accelerate Virginia’s transition to clean, affordable energy.”
NextGen Highways’ work in Virginia builds on policy successes the initiative has achieved in Colorado, where a bill to allow co-location of transmission in interstate highway rights of way was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in May, and in Minnesota, where policy makers are working to implement similar legislation passed last year. Similar legislative and policy efforts are underway with stakeholders in Massachusetts as well as states in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and beyond.
The Virginia coalition’s current members represent energy, environmental and municipal interests across the Commonwealth. Organizations seeking to join the effort and move forward with modernizing transmission siting policy in Virginia can visit nextgenhighways.org to learn more and inquire.
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About NextGen Highways
NextGen Highways is a collaborative initiative promoting the use of highways and other existing rights-of-way as infrastructure corridors where electric and communications infrastructure are strategically and safely co-located in existing highway rights-of-way.