TVA seeks comments on proposed transmission line

 MACON  – The Tennessee Valley Authority is asking for public input on upgrades to its transmission system that involve building up to 34 miles of 161-kilovolt transmission line to meet growing power demand and increase power reliability in the Macon, Scooba, and DeKalb, Mississippi, areas.

This is the second phase of transmission improvements near Macon; phase one is the new 19.4 mile Midway-South Macon transmission line route selected in April 2020. TVA is investing about $62 million in the entire project. 

TVA proposes to build a 161-kilovolt transmission line beginning at TVA’s existing South Macon 161-kV switching station. The line would extend southeast toward Scooba and then west to TVA’s existing DeKalb 161-kilovolt substation. The new line would be built using primarily steel, single-pole structures on existing and new 100-foot-wide right of way. Alternative line segments are under consideration for the route of the new line. 

TVA is committed to working with area stakeholders during the course of the project and encourages public input.

Members of the public are invited to attend a virtual open house on TVA’s website from Dec. 3 through Jan. 4, 2021, at tvavirtual.com/dekalb.

Detailed maps showing the different locations being considered for the proposed transmission line will be available. Property owners may ask questions and submit comments. Information is also available on the TVA Transmission Project website.

The deadline for comments is Jan. 4, 2021. Public comments may be submitted by contacting TVA’s Rob Nidiffer toll free at 800-362-4355, by email at newtransline@tva.gov or by mail to: Rob Nidiffer, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market St., MR 4G, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801.

TVA is investing over $2 billion in transmission system improvements across the service area between 2021 and 2025 to build the energy grid of the future that will continue to provide clean, low-cost, reliable energy.