TVA Identifies Preferred Route for Mississippi Transmission Line

January 26, 2009

BIGGERSVILLE, Miss. – TVA has identified a preferred route for a proposed new transmission line that would replace overloaded equipment and provide a reliable source of power to the Biggersville area.

The preferred route begins at TVA’s Corinth substation south of U.S. Highway 72 and extends south to Alcorn County Electric Power Association’s planned new substation on U.S. Highway 45 in Biggersville.

The 9.2-mile route for the proposed new 161-kilovolt line is expected to have the fewest overall impacts of the alternative routes studied. The route would affect 36 tracts of property.

TVA will work with property owners to obtain 100-foot easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the line. Property owners will be compensated for the easements at fair market value and retain possession of the property.

TVA is expected to begin acquiring easements for the transmission line right-of-way during the summer this year, with construction scheduled to begin during the fall.

TVA’s decision follows receipt and evaluation of public input on 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 cultural considerations to ensure that overall project impacts, as well as impacts to the community at large, are minimized.

The preferred route consists of alternative line segments 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 20. Some segments have been adjusted from the routes presented at an open house. A map of the project and additional information are available.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 9 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, Chattanooga, (423) 751-7153
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

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