virginia rockwell (@gentlegardener)

I am extremely proud to be a citizen of Orange County Virginia today. Last night’s well-run, welcoming joint board of supervisors and planning commission meeting was perfect in every way and an example of deep democracy and community in action. The Board and Planning Commission asked hard questions of the utility representatives. The Orange School Board chair spoke to register the 5-0 board opposition to Valley Link. 85 or so citizens spoke knowledgeably, compassionately, and briefly about the impacts known and unknown of the high voltage line on habitats forestry farms children soils septics bees homes and views. The field house was full, staff and police welcoming, and the technology worked, including the live stream. And the villains of the show, Valley Link field engineers and p r peeps, played their parts to perfection. To the substance of the issue: this is NOT a right left red blue divisive issue. This IS an informed citizenry who will NOT participate in a colonialism model: of extracting power in Ohio and routing it the long way round to Northern Virginia. This rural county is not interested in corporations extracting wealth in perpetuity from rural areas and transferring it to utilities, data centres and tech AI firms in Northern Virginia for a 10-20 maybe 50!year life along the way. Conservation and stewardship values of HOME rejected a blatant “taking”. Common Weal was on display in the Commonwealth last night. I am so grateful to call this HOME.