Tennessee Valley Authority
Putnam and Cumberland Counties, Tennessee
July 2011
TVA conducted a public scoping meeting on January 20, 2011 in Cookeville, Tennessee for public input on this proposed project. Following the comment period, TVA evaluated the potential environmental impacts and other important issues identified in the scoping process, as well as engineering and economic considerations. Option #2 - construction of a new 500-kV substation in western Cumberland County - has been identified as the Preferred Solution.
TVA will hold an open house to discuss the proposed transmission line project.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. (CST)
Super 8 - Monterey
522 E Stratton Ave
Monterey, TN
TVA representatives will be available at the open house to provide information and answer questions. Large maps showing the alternative locations for the transmission facilities under consideration will be available.
TVA is interested in receiving comments on the potential of the proposed action to affect the environment or historic properties and would like to identify 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.
If you have special needs, please contact Deborah Lawson at least five days prior to the meeting toll-free at (800) 362-4355.
If you cannot attend the meeting but have questions or comments, contact Chris Austin (see contact information). All written comments on this proposed action should be sent to TVA no later than August 30, 2011.
Map
The map is a PDF file requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use the zoom tool to view details of the map and allow time for it to reload. If you have questions or need help understanding the map, please contact TVA.
The map shows the network of alternative locations and routes TVA is considering for the proposed transmission project.
Map (PDF, 577 kb)
January 2011
Improve Power Supply Project
Due to increasing power demand in east-central Tennessee, improvements to the transmission system are needed for continued reliable power in Putnam and Cumberland Counties.
The population in Putnam and Cumberland Counties has grown at a rate of almost 1.8 percent per year since 2000.
TVA supplies bulk electric power to Cumberland and Putnam counties and surrounding areas in east-central Tennessee through an existing network of twenty six 161-kV substations and twenty eight 161-kV transmission lines.
- Studies indicate that nineteen of these substations will not meet acceptable voltage criteria by 2016, and the remaining seven substations will be unable to meet criteria by 2019.
- Five of the 161 kV transmission lines are expected to become overloaded by summer 2016, and eleven more lines are likely to be overloaded by summer 2019.
Either a 500 kV source or extensive upgrades to existing 161 kV facilities will be required in the Putnam County and Cumberland County area by 2016 to meet anticipated power loads.
Alternative Solutions
The range of alternatives TVA has identified for detailed evaluation includes no action and the three potential alternatives described below. As analyses proceed, one or more alternatives may be eliminated due to technical infeasibility, unacceptable environmental impacts, or unreasonably high economic costs. TVA expects to evaluate multiple sites for the new substation and various routing options for new transmission lines.
- Upgrade existing transmission lines in the area
- Construct a new 500-kV substation in western Cumberland County
- Construct a new 500-kV substation in Putnam County
- No action
1. Upgrade existing transmission equipment
- This alternative would require replacing conductors (i.e., "wires") on approximately 54 miles of transmission lines.
- Other upgrades, such as re-sagging and re-tensioning conductors and increasing structure height, would be performed on about 115 miles of transmission lines.
- Extensive equipment upgrades would be required at eleven 161-kilovolt substations.
- Work would be performed in eight east-central Tennessee counties: Cumberland, DeKalb, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Smith, White and Wilson.
2. Construct a new 500-kV substation in western Cumberland County
- This alternative involves the construction of a new 500-kV substation in western Cumberland County near the existing Campbell Junction 161-kV Substation. The new substation would require 60 to 80 acres.
- Two new parallel 500-kV transmission line connections would be constructed on a 300-foot-wide right-of-way from the new substation to the TVA Roane-Wilson 500-kV Transmission Line. The new lines would be about 2-miles long.
- Two new 161-kV transmission line connections on a double circuit line would be constructed on a 100-foot-wide right-of-way from the new 500-kV substation to the existing TVA Monterey-Peavine 161-kV Transmission Line. The new lines would likely be less than a mile long.
- New substation equipment would be installed in the Jamestown, Tennessee area.
3. Construct a new 500-kV substation in Putnam County
- This option involves construction of a new 500-kV substation in Putnam County, southwest of Cookeville, on 60 to 80 acres.
- Two new parallel 500-kV transmission line connections would be constructed on a 300-foot-wide right-of-way from the new substation to the TVA Roane-Wilson 500-kV Transmission Line. The new lines would be about 2-miles long.
- Four new 161-kV transmission line connections would also be need, two each on 100-foot right-of-way. Two would be a double circuit line from the new 500-kV substation to the existing TVA Cordell Hull-West Cookeville 161-kV Transmission Line. The other two would be a double circuit line from the new 500-kV substation to the Gallatin West Cookeville 161-kV transmission line. About 7 to 10 miles of new right-of-way would be needed for these connections.
- The West Cookeville South Cookeville 161-kV Transmission Line would be upgraded. And new equipment would be installed at the Jamestown 161-kV Substation in Fentress County, Tennessee and at the Monterey 161-kV Substation in Putnam County.
4. No action
- No changes would be made to the existing transmission system.
Map
The map is a PDF file requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader. Use the zoom tool to view details of the map and allow time for it to reload. If you have questions or need help understanding the map, please contact TVA.
Study area for the project (PDF, 1.4 mb)
Enlargement of Option 2 (PDF, 348 kb)
Enlargement of Option 3 (PDF, 360 kb)
Environmental Review and Public Participation
TVA’s goal is to identify a solution that minimizes impacts to homeowners, property owners, existing environmental and historical features and planned development, while meeting the needs of the power system and keeping the overall project cost within reason.
TVA will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the potential environmental effects of the construction, operation and maintenance of proposed new and upgraded power transmission facilities.
Additional environmental information can be found at http://www.tva.gov/environment/reports/putnam/.
Project Timeline
| January 18, 2011 | Issue the Notice of Intent for environmental review. Public scoping comment period begins (30 days) |
| January 20, 2011 | Open house - public scoping meeting |
| February 22, 2011 | Deadline for scoping comments |
| July 28, 2011 | Open house for comments on alternative substation sites and transmission line routes |
| Fall 2011 | Announce decision on a preferred site / route(s) for field studies |
| Fall 2011/winter 2012 June 2012 |
Issue draft EA; may hold open house for comments Complete field survey work |
| Summer 2013 | Final EA document available; announce selected site and route |
| Fall 2013 | Begin acquiring easements and property |
| Summer 2014 | Begin construction |
| June 2016 | Project in-service |
NOTE: Dates shown are estimates. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.
Related information
Frequently asked questions about TVA right-of-way
Benefits of planting native shrubs and grasses in utility rights-of-way.
- Landscaping with native shrubs (PDF file, 879 kb)
- Landscaping with native grasses (PDF file, 644 kb)
Fact sheet on electric and magnetic fields and their effects.
Environmental Protection and Best Management Practices (PDF, 7 mb)