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Subramanyam backs opposition to Golden to Mars Line
The Virginia congressman also renewed his support for a local data center moratorium and underground power infrastructure.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 14, Jul 2026
- 14:00 EDT
- 61
Suhas Subramanyam / House Floor
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam on July 14 backed residents opposing the proposed Golden to Mars transmission line, urging an alternative route in Loudoun County.
Subramanyam, who represents Virginia's 10th Congressional District, issued the statement after saying he was unable to attend a special meeting of the Loudoun County School Board because of votes in Washington, D.C.
Also Read: Virginia dems slam approval of Golden–Mars power line
"As an Ashburn resident, I absolutely stand with my community against utility companies and data center overreach," Subramanyam said. "I can't believe we are at this point, and I encourage every level of government to fight back against these incursions on our community."
The congressman reiterated his support for a local data center moratorium and said he would continue advocating legislation requiring data center operators to bear the cost of undergrounding their power infrastructure.
"That's why I support a local data center moratorium and will keep pushing legislation to make the data centers pay to underground their own power," he said.
Subramanyam also called for an alternative transmission line route that would avoid impacting nearby residents and schools.
"We must also find an alternative route that won't hurt our residents and schools," he said. "At the federal level, I am going to do everything in my power to protect our community and consider alternatives like a potential Route 606 option."
The Golden to Mars project is part of Dominion Energy's broader transmission expansion plan in Northern Virginia.
Earlier this month, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors renewed its request that the school board consider allowing the use of school property for a route county leaders argued would minimize disruption to surrounding neighborhoods.
The utility has said the proposed 500-kilovolt and 230-kilovolt transmission lines are needed to maintain electric grid reliability as power demand increases, driven largely by the rapid expansion of data centers in Loudoun County and the surrounding region. The project is also included in PJM Interconnection's regional transmission planning process.
The proposal has drawn widespread opposition from residents, local officials, and school communities over the proximity of several proposed routes to neighborhoods and schools. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), which has authority over transmission line routing, approved Route 3A after determining that a previously preferred route requiring access to Loudoun County Public Schools property could not proceed without school board approval. The SCC said delays to the project could affect the reliability of electric service in the region.
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