Paul Terpak Discusses Data Centers, Power Lines, and Eminent Domain on NBC4

Paul Terpak recently appeared on NBC4 Washington’s “4 More Context” for a segment examining how Northern Virginia’s data center boom is driving demand for new high-voltage transmission infrastructure—and putting some homeowners at risk of losing property through eminent domain.

The segment focuses on Loudoun County, where Dominion Energy is pursuing new transmission lines to serve the extraordinary power needs of data centers. Residents along proposed routes have raised concerns about the impact on their homes and property, including one homeowner who could lose roughly a third of her property. Virginia regulators have allowed a controversial Loudoun transmission-line project to move forward, highlighting the growing tension between the region’s data center development and the burdens placed on individual property owners.

Paul, a Blankingship & Keith eminent domain attorney, provides the legal perspective, explaining how condemnation works when utilities need private property for transmission projects and what rights affected landowners have in the process. His comments help put the Loudoun dispute in a broader context: the infrastructure required to support data centers can extend well beyond the data center site itself, with significant consequences for homeowners located along power-line corridors.

The full “One Virginia county’s data center power battle is a warning to everyone” episode of 4 More Context is about 19 minutes and is available on NBC4 Washington’s YouTube channel.