When a project like Valley Link is in the news, people often ask: "Is it already approved?" The honest answer is no. But to see why, you need to know who decides what.
Two different decisions
PJM Interconnection is the regional grid operator. It forecasts needs and selects projects for the regional plan.
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) decides whether, and along what alignment, a major transmission line may be built in Virginia. Lines above 115 kV generally need a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.
PJM planning does not approve a route in Virginia.
Other reviewers
Depending on the resources and permits involved, other agencies may weigh in: the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The four stages
- Now: preliminary routes. Routes remain subject to development and review.
- Filing: the SCC application. The SCC reviews proposed and alternate routes.
- Case: orders and agency review. Comments, discovery, hearings and expert work.
- Decision: the SCC order. Approval, modification or denial.
As of early October 2026, we have not identified a filed SCC application for Joshua Falls to Yeat. When one is accepted, the SCC sets the controlling deadlines.
Four ways residents can take part
- Public comments. Submit written comments under the case-specific order.
- Public witness. Speak at a hearing if the SCC schedules one.
- Formal party. Seek respondent status, and accept filing, service and evidence duties.
- Agency input. Provide relevant information within an agency's jurisdiction.
The SCC's order controls deadlines, format and participation requirements, so read it when it arrives.
Why the record starts now
A well-organized personal record can help residents track what matters to them and prepare questions for the project, public agencies, or their own advisors. It is not proof by itself, and each resident controls their own records and decides what to share.
Read the self-guidance and join the list to hear when a deadline is set.