TVA Identifies Preferred Route for Transmission Line

August 15, 2008

STARKVILLE, Miss. – TVA has identified preferred locations for a transmission line and switching station that are needed to strengthen the transmission system in the Starkville and Columbus areas.

The 13-mile preferred route for the new transmission line is expected to have the fewest overall impacts of alternative routes that were studied. 

The route begins at 4-County Electric Power Association’s Catalpa Creek Substation and extends west about nine miles to connect to TVA’s planned new Clayton Village Switching Station about four miles east of Starkville on Highway 182.  The new switching station will be built adjacent to the existing Lakeside Switching Station.

The remaining four miles of the line will extend west from the new switching station to connect with TVA’s Starkville Switching Station-Starkville Primary transmission line.

The route affects approximately 108 property tracts.  TVA will work with property owners to obtain 100-foot easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the line and property for the switching station.  Property owners will be compensated for the easement and property at fair market value.  Property owners with easements retain possession of the property. 

TVA currently serves a large industrial power load in the Golden Triangle area from a transmission line that provides a single source of power.  The new line and switching station will allow the industries to be served from two directions, providing a back-up source of power.

TVA is expected to begin acquiring easements for the transmission right-of-way and property for the switching station during the fall of 2009.  Construction is scheduled to begin during the spring of 2010 and the project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2010.

TVA’s decision follows receipt and evaluation of public input on 17 alternative routes for various segments of the line and two switching station sites.  TVA tries to select the best overall path for the line, weighing the same environmental, land use, engineering and cost considerations to ensure that impacts from the project, as well as impacts to the community, are minimized.

The preferred route for the line consists of alternative route segments 1, 2, 8, 10, 11 and adjusted segment 15 as shown on the map, which is available here.

Media Contact:           

Myra Ireland, (423) 751-7153

TVA Newsroom