By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The public was invited out to Baker Community Center last Thursday afternoon to view maps and hear plans about the upcoming construction of the solar transmission line. TVA is proposing to build about 4.5 to 5.0 miles of single-circuit transmission line which would convey power generated by Silicon Ranch Millington, LLC’s new solar facility to TVA’s transmission system. “We’re having an open house here for the public to come and talk about this project,” Myra Ireland of TVA Communication said. “We need to get the power from the proposed solar facility to the TVA power lines. We have several options and we want to get the public opinion on where this line is going to be.” The Shelby-Millington Solar 161-kV Transmission Line would begin at TVA’s existing Shelby 500-kV Substation located off Mudville Road in Millington and end at Silicon Ranch Millington, LLC’s new substation located at the corner of Kerrville Rosemark Road and Bethuel Road . Four alternative transmission line routes consisting of ten alternative segments are under consideration. The line would be built on steel pole, single-circuit structures. TVA will hold an open house on Thursday, September 15, 2016, to provide information, answer questions and receive comments about the proposed transmission project. The project is expected to be in service fall 2018. Construction is scheduled to begin spring 2018. (Dates are subject to change. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.) “We’re having an open house here for the public to come and talk about this project,” Ireland said. “We need to get the power from the proposed solar facility to the TVA power lines. We have several options and we want to get the public opinion on where this line is going to be.” TVA’s process for siting new transmission projects is designed to allow public input at various stages. TVA is committed to working with area stakeholders to address concerns during various stages of the project. Comments received during the comment period will be used in reaching a decision on the proposed action. TVA held the open house for about 4 hours to discuss the proposed transmission project. TVA representatives were available at the open house to provide information, answer questions and receive comments. Large maps showing the alternative locations for consideration will be available. TVA is interested in receiving comments concerning how this project may affect the environment, historic properties or any other issues associated with this proposal. Any comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and will be available for public inspection. The open house kicked off the 30-day period for public comments. “We want to know basically what we don’t know,” Ireland said. “We’ve looked at what we think are good options for these lines. But the community knows what’s here more than we do. You might even know about a project that is coming up that we don’t know. We don’t want to put a line there because something else is planned. It’s really to get your imput on what we don’t know to make a good decision.”
To give TVA a comment by October 17, mail to Todd Moore, TVA, 1101 Market Street (MR 4G), Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801, Fax: 423-751-4098, E-mail: [email protected] or call 1-800-362-4355.
