Buckingham County Planning Commission 7/20/2026

The Buckingham County Planning Commission held a work session on July 20, 2026, to discuss policy options related to utility corridors, specifically focusing on the placement and regulation of high-voltage transmission lines within the county. The commission reviewed various policy options, including preferred and disfavored corridor approaches, and considered the implications for conservation easements, residential areas, and alignment with the county's comprehensive plan. Legal and practical constraints were discussed, emphasizing that while the county cannot control the ultimate routing decisions made by the State Corporation Commission (SCC), it can influence the process through policy language. No formal votes were taken during this session, but members expressed a preference for a hybrid approach that balances input with minimizing impact on conservation areas. The commission planned to revisit the issue in the August meeting for potential action, with some members absent for the next session. Overall, the meeting centered on preparing a policy framework to guide future utility infrastructure projects and to incorporate lessons learned from recent developments like Valley Link.