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Tennessee Valley Authority Announces New Power Transmission Line

Scenic view of Tennessee Valley Authority power transmission line across landscapes.

News Summary

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced plans for a new 19-mile power transmission line crossing Clay, Lowndes, and Oktibbeha counties. Intended to enhance energy reliability, the line will connect the Clay and Artesia substations. TVA aims to facilitate regional economic development and improve grid flexibility to attract businesses. Community feedback has shaped the planned route, with surveys and easement acquisitions scheduled for the future. The project will support significant local growth, including the new Aluminum Dynamics mill set to open in Summer 2025.

West Point, MS – The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced plans for a new 19-mile power transmission line that will traverse Clay, Lowndes, and Oktibbeha counties. This announcement was made on Wednesday, outlining the proposed route intended to bolster energy reliability and support regional economic development.

The preferred route of the transmission line will connect the Clay Substation located at 2740 TVA Road in West Point to the Artesia Substation at 1280 Mims Road in Columbus. This infrastructure project is part of TVA’s commitment to enhance the overall reliability of the power grid and expand access to energy generation resources.

According to TVA, the new transmission line is a strategic move designed to improve grid flexibility, which in turn will attract businesses and aid in job creation in the affected communities. The line’s construction will primarily involve single and double pole structures along a 100-foot-wide right-of-way.

TVA plans to engage with property owners along the selected route to secure the necessary easements for construction, operation, and maintenance of the power line. Property owners will receive payments at fair market value for these easements, ensuring that their property rights are respected during this process.

The proposed route for the transmission line was determined after taking into account public input from open houses held in November and virtual consultations conducted from November 14 to December 16. The TVA also completed an assessment of the environmental, social, and engineering impacts related to the route selection.

However, the planned route is still pending a review under the National Environmental Policy Act, which must be completed before construction can begin. TVA anticipates starting surveys in Fall 2025 and aims to initiate easement acquisitions during Winter 2025. Construction is tentatively scheduled to commence by Summer 2027, with an estimated completion date in Summer 2028.

This new power line is expected to benefit growth and reliability in Clay, Lowndes, and Oktibbeha counties significantly. The line will support the new Aluminum Dynamics mill projected to open in Summer 2025, as confirmed by local economic development representatives. Additionally, there are plans to connect the transmission line to CINCO, a new TVA-certified Megasite being developed over 1,500 acres north of Highway 82.

While outages may occur during the construction period, TVA will schedule them in a manner that minimizes disruptions to customers, typically targeting off-peak load seasons for any necessary interruptions.

For more information about the project, including an informational map, residents are encouraged to visit the TVA website at tva.com/transmissionprojects.

This project marks a significant step towards modernizing the energy infrastructure in the region and enhancing energy security in the Tennessee Valley, paving the way for future investments and community growth.