FLUVANNA COUNTY INTELLIGENCE BRIEF — June 13, 2026 THREE CONVERGING CRISES: Fluvanna County is simultaneously facing (1) a $2 billion gas plant approved against unanimous Planning Commission opposition to power data centers, (2) a documented private water utility contaminating the county's primary water supply, and (3) a 115-mile transmission line that threatens the county's historic landscape. The same financial network connects all three. --- THE TENASKA VOTE --- On March 18–19, 2026, the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors voted 4–1 to approve Tenaska's 'Expedition Generating Station' — a 1,500 MW natural gas plant on Branch Road near Scottsville — overriding a UNANIMOUS 4-0 Planning Commission rejection. The plant, projected to cost $2 billion, will serve primarily as power supply for Northern Virginia data centers via the Valley Link transmission corridor. THE 4 YES VOTES: • Tony O'Brien (Rivanna, Chair): tobrien@fluvannacounty.org • Mike Sheridan (Columbia): jsheridan@fluvannacounty.org • Mike Goad (Fork Union): mgoad@fluvannacounty.org • Timothy Hodge (Palmyra, Vice Chair): thodge@fluvannacounty.org THE NO VOTE: Chris Fairchild (Cunningham): cfairchild@fluvannacounty.org --- FOLLOW THE MONEY --- According to VPAP public campaign finance records: • Tony O'Brien: #1 donor Virginia Realtors $6,000 • Mike Goad: #1 donor Virginia Realtors $5,000 • Timothy Hodge: #1 donor Virginia Realtors $5,000 Same PAC, three YES-vote supervisors. The Virginia Realtors PAC appears as the #1 donor in every county in this investigation (Caroline, Culpeper, Spotsylvania, Fluvanna). ALLEN POWELL — LOCAL INSIDER: Allen Powell, Troy VA, President/CEO of S&N Infrastructure (3723 Three Notch Rd, Louisa VA) — a private-equity-backed company (Tower Arch Capital, 2023) that builds fiber, power distribution, and gas utility infrastructure. He owns KFP1 LLC (land in Fluvanna, appeared before PC Oct 2024) and land near Lake Anna in Louisa County. VPAP shows he donated $2,452 to Goad AND $2,452 to Hodge — exact same amount, same cycle. He also donated $5,000 to a Louisa County supervisor. His company builds exactly what Tenaska and Valley Link would hire. --- WATER: THE DROUGHT PROBLEM --- Fluvanna County is under SEVERE DROUGHT as of June 12, 2026. Mandatory water restrictions are in effect across Virginia. Tenaska's existing plant already withdraws 3–4 million gallons/day from the James River. The new Expedition plant will require 6–7 million MORE gallons/day. Combined: up to 11 million gallons/day from a drought-stressed river system. Tenaska claims this is 'less than 1% of average James River flow.' During drought, there is no average flow. DEQ must issue a Virginia Water Protection Permit. Public comment will open. The drought classification is directly relevant. --- AQUA VIRGINIA / LAKE MONTICELLO CONTAMINATION --- Aqua Virginia serves approximately 60–65% of Fluvanna County's population through the Lake Monticello system. DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS: • 2007–2011: 76 water quality violations + 39 wastewater violations in 4 years • July 2023: E. coli 4x higher than safe swimming levels in Jackson Cove; storm sewer overflow; LMOA President called it 'Negligence' and 'risk to public health'; at least 2nd incident in 12 months • May 2025: Elevated E. coli detected again after heavy rain • October 2024: Virginia DEQ proposed FORMAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION against Aqua for violations of State Water Control Law at the Lake Monticello Wastewater Treatment Plant • CURRENT: EWG Tap Water Database shows 8 contaminants above health guidelines including ARSENIC and CHROMIUM-6 (a carcinogen) RATE ABUSE: • Aqua filed for 29.49% rate increase while violations ongoing • Additional rate increase application filed July 30, 2025 • Fluvanna County government filed suit against Aqua over rates • Parent company: Essential Utilities (formerly Aqua America), Pennsylvania HQ, publicly traded SCC DOCKET: PUR-2025-00071 (Aqua Virginia rate case — active) --- HISTORIC SITES: VALLEY LINK THREAT --- Preservation Virginia named the Valley Link corridor to its 2026 Most Endangered Historic Places list. Fluvanna bears approximately 31 miles of the proposed 115-mile, 765-kV line requiring a 200-foot cleared right-of-way. THREATENED SITES: • Bremo Historic District (National Register, 18th century, James River) • Fluvanna County Courthouse Historic District • Green Springs Rural Historic District • Trevilian Station Battlefield • Rivanna Canal Navigation Historic District • Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area • Dozens of unregistered family cemeteries, farm sites, mill sites FCHS President Kathleen Kilpatrick: 'Never before has the work and vision of generations of Fluvannians been threatened as today.' FCHS archival session: June 17, 6–8pm, Fluvanna County Public Library, 214 Commons Blvd, Palmyra VA 22963. --- COUNTY LEADERSHIP --- • County Administrator: Eric Dahl (edahl@fluvannacounty.org) — in role since July 2019, with county since 2011 • County Attorney: Dan Whitten (dwhitten@fluvannacounty.org) — recently appointed • Clerk to Board: Caitlin Solis (csolis@fluvannacounty.org) — signs official documents • FOIA: clerk@fluvannacounty.org --- FIGHT ISN'T OVER --- The SCC must still approve an electricity generation certificate. DEQ must still issue an air permit AND a Virginia Water Protection Permit. Both have public comment periods. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study (commissioned by Southern Environmental Law Center) projects 4+ million people will experience increased air pollution; increased heart attacks, strokes, asthma, premature deaths.
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