
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) on Dec. 3 said that it is asking for public input through Jan. 4, 2021, on upgrades to its transmission system that involve building up to 34 miles of 161-kV transmission line to meet growing power demand and increase power reliability in the Macon, Scooba, and DeKalb areas in Mississippi.
TVA noted that this is the second phase of transmission improvements near Macon, with phase one being the new 19.4-mile Midway-South Macon transmission line route selected in April. TVA also said that it is investing about $62m in the entire project.
TVA said that it proposes to build the 161-kV line that will begin at its existing South Macon 161-kV switching station and extend southeast toward Scooba, and then west to TVA’s existing DeKalb 161-kV substation. The new line would be built using primarily steel, single-pole structures on existing and new 100-foot-wide right of way (ROW), TVA said, adding that alternative line segments are under consideration for the new line’s route.
As noted on the project website, the project is expected to be in service in spring 2026, with construction scheduled to begin in fall 2022.
The public is invited to attend a virtual open house on TVA’s website through Jan. 4, 2021, TVA said.