Artesia, Mississippi

Update — August 2020

TVA has completed an Environmental Assessment for the proposed 12-mile transmission line that would increase customer reliability and support economic development. The environmental documents are available here. 

Update — June 2018

TVA has identified preferred locations for transmission upgrades that would increase customer reliability and support economic development at the Infinity Megasite (Megasite) near Artesia, Mississippi.

TVA proposes to build a transmission line and switching station. The new line would begin at TVA’s West Columbus Switching Station on the southeast side of U.S. Highway 45 and then head southwest for 11 miles ending at the new Artesia 161-kV Switching Station.

For four miles, the new line would parallel a portion of TVA’s West Columbus-Severcorr Transmission Line which would be torn down and rebuilt as a double circuit.

The preferred route is No. 1 which consists of segment Nos. 1, 2, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 24 as presented at the open house in January 2018.

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.

The new line would consist of steel poles centered on new and existing 100-foot-wide right of way.  

Surveys of the right of way are scheduled to begin in winter 2018.
Easement purchases are scheduled to begin in winter 2019.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2021.
The line is scheduled to be in service in fall 2021.

Background

TVA is proposing to build 11 to 13 miles of 161-kV transmission line and a switching station.

The new line would provide power to a switching station TVA proposes to build at the Megasite near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport south of U.S. Highway 82 between Starkville and Columbus.

There are about 24 alternative transmission line routes consisting of 24 alternative line segments under consideration. The line would be built on steel pole structures.

Existing transmission line resources would be utilized where possible. The alternative routes would also involve tearing down and rebuilding portions of the West Columbus Switching Station-Severcorr Switching Station Transmission Line.  These portions range from 3 to 4.5 miles long and would be rebuilt as double-circuit on the existing right of way.  In some instances, the rebuild would require expanding the right of way from 75 to 100 feet wide. 

TVA will hold an open house on January 18, 2018, to provide information, answer questions and receive comments about the proposed transmission project.

The project is expected to be in service in fall 2021. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2021. (Dates are subject to change. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

(Dates are subject to change. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)