TVA Identifies Preferred Route for Transmission Line
September 26, 2006
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. – TVA has identified a preferred route for a new transmission line that will serve Holly Springs Utilities Department’s new Coldwater substation. The line and substation are being built to maintain reliable electric service and serve the growing power demand in the area.
The 5.5-mile line would use existing right-of-way for most of the route and is expected to have the fewest overall impacts of the alternatives studied.
The route begins at TVA’s existing Holly Springs-Miller transmission line and extends east to the substation, located east of Hwy. 311, approximately 1.5 miles south of the intersection with U.S. Hwy. 72. The westernmost 1.5 miles of the line will be built on new 75-foot right-of-way. The remaining 4 miles will be on existing 75-foot right-of-way except for a short section at the entrance to the substation that will be 100-feet wide. An existing Holly Springs UD line will be rebuilt underneath the new line for about 1.1 miles.
The route affects approximately 22 property tracts. TVA will work with property owners to obtain easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the line. Property owners are compensated for the easement at fair market value and retain possession of the property.
TVA is expected to begin acquiring easements for the transmission right-of-way during the winter of 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin during the spring of 2008 with project completion scheduled for June 2008.
TVA’s decision follows the receipt and evaluation of public input on seven alternative route segments. TVA’s objective in determining a route is to select the best overall path, weighing the same environmental, land use, engineering and cost considerations to ensure that overall project impacts, as well as impacts to the community at large, are minimized.
A map of the project and additional information are available.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.
Media Contact
Myra Ireland, (423) 751-7153
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
