Dickson, Tennessee

TVA is considering improvements to its transmission system that would provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the Dickson area of Dickson and Hickman Counties.        

TVA has determined that, in various maintenance contingency scenarios, the Dickson area transmission system is overloaded and experiences interruption in electrical service. Three existing Dickson Electric System (DES) stations in the area are on radial feeds. This project would remove these stations from radial feeds, provide increased transmission capacity for future load growth, improve operational and maintenance flexibility, and increase reliability in the area. 

TVA proposes to build the Locust Creek 161-kilovolt Switching Station and the Dickson-Locust Creek 161-kilovolt Transmission Line. The proposed line would be a total of about 14 miles long—about 4.5 miles on the existing right of way and about 9.5 miles on the new right of way.

TVA’s new Locust Creek Switching Station will be located about 4 miles south of Bon Aqua within 5 tenths of a mile of the intersection of TVA’s existing Davidson-West Centerville 161-kilovolt and the Tap to Bon Aqua 161-kilovolt Transmission Lines. TVA will build the new switching station and sections of new transmission line utilizing both existing and new right of way. TVA will also reconductor existing lines to create the Dickson-Locust Creek 161-kilovolt Transmission Line.   

• TVA will build a new bay at their existing Dickson 161-kilovolt Substation.  The new Dickson-Locust Creek 161-kilovolt Transmission Line will proceed east out of the Dickson Station. The new line will parallel TVA’s Kingston Springs-Dickson 161-kilovolt Transmission Line for about a quarter of a mile where about 50 feet of additional right of way width will be acquired. The new line will then join DES’s Dickson-White Bluff 69-kilovolt Transmission Line on double-circuit construction utilizing TVA’s existing right of way for about 4.25 miles. TVA will retire switches in the Kingston Springs-Dickson Transmission Line and remove the current tap point for the Kingston Springs-Dickson Tap to Burns 161-kilovolt Transmission Line.  The new 4.5-mile section of transmission line will meet the existing Tap to Burns line and continue 5 miles south to DES’s Burns Station.  
• This existing 5-mile-long Tap to Burns line will be reconductored and optical ground wire (OPGW) installed.
• TVA plans to build an approximately 9.5-mile-long 161-kilovolt transmission line from DES’s Burns 161-kilovolt Station south to their Bon Aqua 161-kilovolt Station. The proposed line will be built using primarily steel, single-pole structures with the potential for double-pole, H-frame structures in select locations.

The existing 5-mile-long Davidson-West Centerville Tap to Bon Aqua Transmission Line will be reconductored and OPGW installed. TVA’s new Locust Creek Switching Station will be built near the intersection of the Davidson-West Centerville Transmission Line and the Tap to Bon Aqua line. These 3 lines will terminate in the new switching station.  This may require tear down of existing single-circuit line and rebuild as double-circuit. Up to 4 tenths of a mile of new right of way will be required to route the new lines to the new station.

There are 31 alternative line segments and 2 switching station sites under consideration.

Property owners near and along the alternative transmission line segments have been invited to a virtual open house by mail—including about 237 property owners representing about 322 parcels.

The virtual open house is available from February 4 through March 8, 2021 at  www.tvavirtual.com/dickson.

Property owners and members of the public are invited to submit comments and questions about this proposed transmission project through March 8, 2021.

The project is expected to be in service in fall 2025. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2024. (Dates are subject to change. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

Dickson, Tennessee Area Virtual Open House

February 4 to March 8, 2021
www.tvavirtual.com/dickson

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 Spencer Whittier. All written comments on this proposed action should be sent to TVA no later than March 8, 2021. (See contact information below).  

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