I'd like to thank the Chair and the committee members for taking time to consider HB466, and we (Amazon Web Services) appreciate Delegate Cohen putting forward this important piece of legislation. AWS is invested in this bill for the following reasons: 1) We are invested as an economic developer. AWS has invest $91 billion dollars in the Commonwealth between 2011-2025.  Our ability to execute such large investments over the short, medium, and long term is dependent on certainty in government review processes.  This bill ensures certainty in a critical component of not only our projects, but for projects of all types across the Commonwealth.  Variations in the process for application review or the perception of undue delay can be deterrents to investors to bring projects to parts of the Commonwealth.  We believe this time period will provide sufficient opportunity for review and determination.  2) We are invested as a renewable energy developer. AWS has 22 solar farms in the Commonwealth and we are deeply committed to driving progress on both ours and Virginia's renewable and clean energy targets.  In order to do so, we will need transmission infrastructure.  There is a significant backlog and numerous hurdles for the development of renewable power in Virginia.  This bill will help to define and clarify a very critical step in the process to bring more clean power to the Commonwealth. 3) We are invested as a electric utility customer. We recognize that data centers have been at the forefront of the energy and affordability conversation.  This bill addresses a key component of the affordability conversation that is often overlooked, which is time.  Time delays are a major contributor to increased costs, both in terms of cost paid, costs saved, and opportunity costs.  Ensuring clear, certain timelines will support managing costs. Finally, this bill does not force approvals.  It clarifies and makes certain a review process that stakeholders can rely on.

HB466 - I object to limiting the timeline needed to evaluate transmission lines and routes. You should not impose a 6-month time limit on SCC TRANSMISSION LINE CASES. That time allotment is absolutely unacceptable. Dominion is poised to file MANY MAJOR NEW TRANSMISSION LINE CASES that would affect Southern Fauquier County, among many others to feed data centers in Northern VA Counties that keep approving them! We all know that the energy infrastructure to power these will be extremely expensive and many lines are hundreds of miles long, on new ROW, going through many VA counties. A 6-month time limit would severely compromise SCC analysis, public involvement, and the rights of affected parties. Our family's historic farm and many generational farms around us are in danger of being squashed by these big companies and all their land and energy needs. Please amend or defeat this bill so that we can get proper analysis before railroading through without proper vetting.

HB466 would impose a 6-month time limit on SCC TRANSMISSION LINE CASES. That is unthinkable and unacceptable. Dominion is poised to file MANY MAJOR NEW TRANSMISSION LINE CASES -- which are extremely expensive and will feed the increase in electricity rates for VA households. Moreover, these projects will have major impacts on VA communities and residents. Many lines are hundreds of miles long, on new ROW, going through multiple VA counties. A 6-month time limit would severely compromise SCC analysis, public involvement, and the rights of affected parties. Amend or defeat this bill. DO NOT LIMIT SCC TRANSMISSION LINE CASES TO JUST 6 MONTHS."

Amend or defeat HB466. As written, it would impose a 6-month time limit on SCC Transmission line cases. Six months is not enough time for the process because of all the nuances of these proposals and far-reaching impacts. Many lines are hundreds of miles long and will impact many Virginia counties. These projects will impact all Virginia ratepayers with higher costs. A 6-month time limit would severely compromise SCC analysis, public involvement and the rights of affected parties. Amend or defeat this bill. DO NOT LIMIT SCC TRANSMISSION LINE CASES TO JUST 6 MONTHS.

HB466 would impose a 6-month time limit on SCC TRANSMISSION LINE CASES. That is unthinkable and unacceptable. Dominion is poised to file MANY MAJOR NEW TRANSMISSION LINE CASES -- which are extremely expensive and will feed the increase in electricity rates for VA households. Moreover, these projects will have major impacts on VA communities and residents. Many lines are hundreds of miles long, on new ROW, going through many VA counties. A 6-month time limit would severely compromise SCC analysis, public involvement, and the rights of affected parties. Amend or defeat this bill. DO NOT LIMIT SCC TRANSMISSION LINE CASES TO JUST 6 MONTHS.

Piedmont Environmental Council has concerns about the phrase, "or a facility subject to the requirements of subsection B of § 56-46.1" which refers to transmission lines in the bill. We do not have concern with the reduced review time for review of small renewable energy but the transmission lines, especially those serving data center facilities and impacting private property and public facilities and parks, are complex and sometimes controversial projects and require months and can take even over a year of study, review, testimony, and deliberation by the SCC. Some of the lines selected by PJM Regional Transmission Expansion Projects (RTEP) are completed new to the utilities or the state, such as the 765kV from Joshua Falls to Yeat and the new HVDC likely to be selected in the current 2025 Window 1 RTEP. These lines go through multiple states and numerous resources requiring study, review, mitigation, testimony, and deliberation. It is inappropriate and unjust to all the stakeholders impacted to rush this process. Currently there is no timeline for SCC review of transmission lines, this would place an arbitrary one on them for the benefit of the data center industry. None of the lines currently being planned through northern Virginia or as part of the various RTEPs show any connection to renewable energy. As you can see on our map, lines are going out to coal, gas, and nuclear facilities or they are directly serving data centers. https://piedmont.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fb87700e5c0747518b284e31386924b7 Thank you for considering our concerns.