Golden Substation
Dominion's 500 kV substation near Route 28, Pacific Boulevard and the W&OD Trail in Sterling, where Golden to Mars begins. The Board votes on it Nov. 5, 2026.
- Type
- 500 kV / 230 kV utility substation (Utility, Major)
- Owner / applicant
- Dominion Energy Virginia
- Decided by
- Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Loudoun County Planning Commission (recommendation)
- Proposed or under review
The Golden Substation is where Golden to Mars begins. Dominion plans it on the north side of the W&OD Trail near Route 28 and Pacific Boulevard in Sterling.
The SCC approves the transmission lines. The substation itself is a county land use decision. Dominion's application, LEGI-2025-0012, asks for a commission permit and three special exceptions: one for the substation use in the Industrial Park district, one to shrink or remove the required landscape buffers on all four sides, and one to cut required parking from 30 spaces to one.[1]
What has happened
The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-1-2 in July 2026, with members unhappy about the design. Commissioner Mark Miller (Catoctin) voted no, saying the design still looks like a 20-foot wall.[3]
On Sept. 1, 2026 the Board of Supervisors deferred the vote to December, 5-4. Supervisor Koran Saines (Sterling), who made the motion, said Dominion is "able to do the right thing and come to the table with a better design than what we're getting." Supervisor Matt Letourneau (Dulles) voted no: "We're now at a point where this is a reliability substation." Dominion told the Board the alternative designs Saines proposed are not possible because Golden converts higher voltages than the examples he showed.[2]
On Oct. 20, 2026 the Board voted 8-0-1, with Supervisor Juli Briskman (Algonkian) absent, to move the vote up to Nov. 5. Saines, who made the motion, said he had worked with Dominion and Vantage on an understanding to get Vantage's Sterling data center off its on-site gas turbines in 2028, and that the motion "does not determine the vote on Nov. 5." Dominion said a temporary arrangement would supply part of the campus's power by the end of 2028.[4]
The county's vote
This is the Board's own decision, and one of the few places on Golden to Mars where the county has a vote. The vote is set for Nov. 5, 2026. The SCC's target in-service date for the lines is June 1, 2028.
Who decides
The Board of Supervisors votes on the special exceptions. County staff review the site plan, EPLAN-2026-0029, which is filed and in review.
Proceedings
Timeline
- VoteBoard moves the Golden Substation vote up to Nov. 5Passed 8-0-1, with Supervisor Briskman absent. Supervisor Saines tied the earlier vote to an agreement to take Vantage's Sterling campus off its gas turbines by the end of 2028.Source →
- VoteBoard defers the Golden Substation vote to DecemberThe motion to defer passed 5-4. Supervisors Letourneau, Turner, Kershner and Umstattd voted no.Source →
- VotePlanning Commission recommends approval, 6-1-2Commissioners pressed Dominion on the 20-foot wall and screening. The application went on to the Board.Source →
- FilingDominion files the site planSource →
- FilingDominion files the land use applicationSource →
Coming up for this item
Full Calendar →Who represents this area
Across the site
Sources
- [1]LEGI-2025-0012, Golden Substation (LOLA case record). Loudoun County. Jun 4, 2025.
- [2]Loudoun supervisors delay Golden Substation. Loudoun Now. Sep 2, 2026.
- [3]Planning Commission approves plans for Golden Substation. Loudoun Now. Jul 10, 2026.
- [4]Vantage eyes earlier removal of gas turbines amid agreements with Saines, Dominion. Loudoun Now. Oct 21, 2026.