Appalachia Area Improvement, Tennessee and North Carolina

Update – February 2025

Following are updated schedules for each portion of the project:

Power Line

Spring 2025 – Surveys begin

Fall 2026 - Easement purchases begin

Summer 2028 - Construction begins

Spring 2029 - Project is in service

Martins Creek Switching Station

Summer 2025 – Surveys begin

Fall 2026 – Land purchase begins

Spring 2028 – Construction begins

Summer 2029 – Project is in service

Background Update – September 2023

TVA is offering an additional in-person public information session for this project as follows: 

5 -7 p.m. local time, Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Tri-County Community College
Enloe Building (multi-purpose room)
21 Campus Circle
Murphy, North Carolina

The purpose of this public information session is to provide the local community another in-person opportunity to learn about the project and speak with TVA representatives individually to address any concerns or questions.  We welcome you to attend and appreciate your participation as we work to improve the power supply in your community.

Background Update – June 2023

TVA has identified the preferred location for transmission improvements that would meet growing demand and increase power reliability in the Appalachia area of Polk County in Tennessee and Cherokee County in North Carolina.

TVA evaluated each route using social, engineering, and environmental factors.  Information sources included available data, aerial photography, limited onsite reviews, public review and comment, and property owner input.  Based on public input and evaluation, the preferred route is expected to have the least overall project impacts of the alternatives.

TVA will build the Martins Creek Switching Station near 455 New Martins Creek Road in Murphy, North Carolina - located southeast of the intersection of Hedden Road and New Martins Creek Road on the east side of, and adjacent to, TVA’s existing Harshaw Road-Weaver 161-kV Transmission Line.  This site would require 0.4 miles of new power line to connect the new switching station to the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line and the Harshaw Road-Weaver Transmission Line.

TVA will also build a 25.2-mile transmission line from the Apalachia Hydro Plant Substation at 899 Powerhouse Road in Reliance, Tennessee, to Structure 534 of the Tap to Ranger Transmission Line.

The preferred location for the new line was selected from several options presented online at a virtual open house from January 19 through February 20, 2023.  The preferred site for the switching station is Site A, and the preferred route for the power line is Route 40 consisting of Segments 1, 6, 11, 22, 23, 25, 28, 35, and 36.

The transmission line would consist primarily of H-frame, steel structures with potential for towers and single-pole, steel structures.  TVA will utilize existing 100-foot-wide right of way from the Hiwassee Hydro Plant to the Apalachia Hydro Plant and will acquire new 100-foot-wide right of way for about 13-14 miles.

Surveys of the right of way are scheduled to begin in winter 2023-2024.

Easement purchases are scheduled to begin in summer 2025.

Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2025-2026.

The line is scheduled to be in service in winter 2026-2027.

The National Environmental Policy Act review is pending.

Background

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.)

TVA held an open house in Piedmont June 27, 2024, and a virtual open house online from June 27 through July 29, 2024, to present the project.  Within this 30-day comment period, property owners and members of the public were able to submit questions and comments online, in writing, or by telephone.

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

Power Line

Martina Creek Switching Station