The Virginia Department of Energy and its partners Appalachian Power Company and the Energy DELTA Lab are jointly developing WiseLink, a 25-mile electric transmission line to serve significant new clean energy generation that is being pursued in Wise County, Virginia, a coal-reliant community focused on reinventing its economy. 

Potential development includes multiple solar projects, a potential wind project and other significant clean energy investment. Based on a study completed by Mangum Economics these projects would add a total of 2,730 jobs and would have an ongoing economic impact to the area of $1.3 billion annually (does not include small modular reactors). 

The WiseLink transmission extension is critical to the success of these clean energy projects on former mined lands. This area of Wise County is underserved by electric infrastructure but has over 65,000 acres of developable property. WiseLink will extend Appalachian Power’s system into Wise County to allow these developers to access the liquid PJM marketplace. This will make these projects economically viable. 

WiseLink is a 25-mile 765 kv extension originating in Dickenson County and terminating near Appalachia, Virginia. The expected cost of the extension is nearly $368 million and will be funded by a grant of nearly $184 million from the U.S. Department of Energy’s GRIP program. The cost share will be covered by developers. 

The Virginia Department of Energy is dedicated to assisting development of clean energy throughout the Commonwealth. Appalachian Power Company is one of the largest electric utilities in the country with about 25,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity. The Energy DELTA Lab is a non-profit operating in Virginia that is dedicated to innovative clean energy development and is assisting on a portfolio of projects that will transform Southwest Virginia’s economy and workforce.

For More Information, Contact:

Will Payne, Executive Director
Email