TVA Identifies Preferred Locations for Knox Transmission Facilities

November 5, 2008

TVA has identified preferred locations for a new transmission switching station and 13.5 miles of new transmission lines that will relieve overloaded equipment and provide a reliable source of power to a growing area in East Knox County.

The planned new switching station would be built near the interchange of Interstate 40 and Midway Road. A new 161-kilovolt transmission line would extend from the new switching station north about 13 miles to the existing Volunteer Substation and then south about a half mile to connect to the Nixon Road-Dumplin Valley transmission line.

The preferred location for the switching station and route for the transmission line are expected to have the fewest overall impacts of alternative sites and routes that were studied. The route segments for the line affect approximately 152 tracts of property, with 81 of the tracts along existing right-of-way. About five miles of the new transmission line is on existing TVA right-of-way.

TVA will meet with property owners along new right-of-way 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 right-of-way during the fall of 2009. Construction is scheduled to begin during the spring of 2010 with project completion scheduled for June of 2010.

TVA’s decision follows receipt and evaluation of public input on alternative route segments for the transmission line. TVA’s objective in determining a route is to select the best overall path, weighing the same environmental, land use, engineering, cultural, and cost considerations to ensure that overall project impacts, as well as impacts to the community at large, are minimized.

The preferred route for the new transmission line consists of alternative segments 22, 20, 15, 13, 11, 10, 9, 4 and 2, as shown on the map. Some of the locations were adjusted from segments that were presented at a public open house in July to discuss the planned improvements. The preferred site for the switching station is alternative No. 1, located southwest of the I-40 and Midway Road interchange.

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 159 power distributors that serve approximately 8.8 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.

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