Appalachia Area Improvement, Tennessee and North Carolina

Proposed Transmission Project

TVA is considering improvements to its transmission system that would provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the Appalachia area of Polk County in Tennessee and Cherokee County in North Carolina.      

This area is served by Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation. TVA is proposing to build the Martins Creek Switching Station at one of the following two sites:

• Proposed Site A:  642-430 New Martin’s Creek Road in Murphy, North Carolina - located southeast of the intersection of Hedden Road and New Martin’s Creek Road on the east side of, and adjacent to, TVA’s existing Harshaw Road-Weaver 161-kV Transmission Line (Line 5881). This site alternative would require 0.4 miles of new power line to connect the proposed switching station to the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line and the Harshaw Road-Weaver Transmission Line. 
• Proposed Site B:  3414-3742 State Road 1580 in Murphy, North Carolina - located on the north side of Hedden Road about 0.15 miles west of the intersection of Hedden Road and Martins Creek Road. This site alternative would require 1.2 miles of new power line to connect the proposed switching station to the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line and the Harshaw Road-Weaver Transmission Line.

TVA will build about 27 miles of single-circuit transmission line from the Apalachia Hydro Plant at 899 Powerhouse Road in Reliance, Tennessee, to Structure 534 on the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line.  

Existing and new 100-foot-wide right of way would be utilized for the proposed transmission line extending from Apalachia Hydro Plant to Structure 534 on the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line. About 13 to 14 miles of existing right of way would be utilized, and about 13 to 14 miles of new right of way would be required. For the switching station Site B alternative, 187.5 feet of new right-of-way width would be required.

The proposed 27-mile-long transmission line from Apalachia Hydro Plant to Structure 534 on the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line would be built using primarily H-frame steel structures with the potential for towers and single-pole steel structures as indicated by design. A total of 0.4 miles of new single-circuit structures would be required for the proposed Site A switching station alternative, and 1.2 miles of single- and double-circuit structures would be required for the proposed Site B switching station alternative.

Single-circuit structures would be utilized for the proposed transmission line from Apalachia Hydro Plant to the tap location at Structure 534 on the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line (about 27 miles) and for the proposed Site A switching station alternative (about 0.4 miles). Both single- and double-circuit structures would be utilized for the proposed Site B switching station alternative. The scheduled completion date for this project is winter 2026-2027.

There are 36 alternative line segments under consideration for the route of the new transmission line.

Property owners near and along the alternative transmission line segments have been invited to a virtual open house by mail – including about 345 property owners representing about 446 parcels.

The virtual open house is available from January 19 through February 20, 2023, at

tvavirtual.com/appalachia

Property owners and members of the public are invited to submit comments and questions about this proposed transmission project through February 20, 2023.

The project is expected to be in service in winter 2026-2027. Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2025-2026. (Dates are subject to change. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

Appalachia Area Improvement Virtual Open House

January 19 – February 20, 2023

tvavirtual.com/appalachia

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 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.

If you cannot access the virtual open house but have questions or comments, contact Austin Ethridge. All written comments on this proposed action should be sent to TVA no later than February 20, 2023. (See contact information below).  

(Dates are subject to change. Unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)