Electric utilities; construction of new overhead transmission lines, siting requirements.

This legislation updates the siting requirements for electric utilities looking to construct new overhead transmission lines in Virginia. It mandates that utilities provide local governing bodies, including Arlington County, with earlier and more comprehensive notice regarding proposed projects. By requiring utilities to formally present potential impacts on local communities and explore alternative undergrounding options during the planning process, the bill aims to give residents and local officials a stronger voice in infrastructure decisions. The likely effect is increased transparency and a more rigorous administrative review process before utility companies can break ground. While this could potentially extend the timeline for major energy infrastructure upgrades, it is intended to mitigate the visual and environmental disruption that overhead high-voltage lines often cause in densely populated neighborhoods.