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Gallatin, Tennessee (North Gallatin)

Proposed Transmission Project

TVA is considering improvements to its transmission system in order to provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the Gallatin area of Sumner County.      

Update – April 2021

TVA has identified the preferred location for transmission improvements that would provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the Gallatin area of Sumner County.

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 North Gallatin 161-kilovolt Substation about one-half mile east of the eastern end of Gateway Drive and about one-half mile south of Roundtree Drive in Gallatin. TVA will also build 5.7 miles of double-circuit transmission line. The new line will begin at the loop point near Structure 92 on the Gallatin-Portland 161-kV Transmission Line.  Initially, the line will extend east for about 2 miles on existing 300-foot-wide TVA right of way. The line will then leave existing right of way and extend southeast for about 3.7 miles on new 100-foot-wide right of way and end at the new North Gallatin 161-kV Substation.

The route selected is Route 2 and consists of Segments 1, 3, and 4 presented online at the virtual open house from January 21 through February 22, 2021.

The new line will be built using primarily steel, two-pole structures on a combination of existing and new right of way.    

Surveys of the right of way are scheduled to begin in summer 2021.

Easement purchases are scheduled to begin in summer 2022.

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.

The line is scheduled to be in service in winter 2023-2024.

Background

TVA would build the North Gallatin 161-kilovolt Substation about one-half mile east of the eastern end of Gateway Drive and about one-half mile south of Roundtree Drive.

TVA would also build from 5.7 to 7.1 miles of double-circuit power line beginning at TVA’s Gallatin-Portland 161-kilovolt Transmission Line. The new line would extend east initially and then south to the proposed North Gallatin Substation.

There are four alternative line segments under consideration for the route of the new transmission line. The line would be built using primarily steel, two-pole structures centered on a combination of existing and new TVA right of way as follows:

  • Existing 300-foot-wide right of way (originally acquired for the Montgomery-Wilson, Loop into Hartsville, Montgomery-Hartsville Section).
  • New 100-foot-wide right of way would be acquired for either the last approximately 1.9 miles of Segment 2 or all of Segment 3 and then all of Segment 4.  This new right of way would be necessary to exit the existing east-west right of way and extend south toward the new substation.
  • Route 1 (consisting of Segments 1, 2, and 4) would utilize about 4.8 miles of existing right of way and would require about 2.3 miles of new right of way for an overall route length of about 7.1 miles.
  • Route 2 (consisting of Segments 1, 3, and 4) would utilize about 2 miles of existing right of way and would require about 3.7 miles of new right of way for an overall route length of about 5.7 miles.

This area is served by the Gallatin Department of Electricity and Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. 

Property owners near and along the alternative transmission line segments have been invited to a virtual open house by mail – including about 165 property owners representing about 225 parcels.

Property owners and members of the public are invited to submit comments and questions about this proposed transmission project through February 22, 2021.

The project is expected to be in service in winter 2023-2024.  Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2023.  (Dates are subject to change. During projects of this magnitude, unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

161kv-alt

Public Involvement

TVA held a virtual open house online from January 21 through February 22, 2021, 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.

Map

The map shows the area of the proposed transmission improvements. The map is also available below as a PDF file.

If you have questions or need help understanding the map, please contact TVA (see below).

Possible segments of proposed transmission line (PDF, 5.8 MB)

North Gallatin Preferred Route Map (PDF, 4 MB)

Project Schedule

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

Virtual Open House begins January 21, 2021
Comments accepted through February 22, 2021
Determine preferred route for field surveys Spring 2021
Surveys of the right of way are scheduled to begin Summer 2021
Easement purchases are scheduled to begin Summer 2022
Construction is scheduled to begin Spring 2023
Project in service Winter 2023-2024

Environmental Reviews

The appropriate National Environmental Policy Act review will be conducted to ensure that the environmental impacts are minimized. TVA attempts to minimize any land requirements, private property impacts, and environmental impacts associated with this project.

Efforts are made during the siting process to avoid or minimize impacts to floodplains and wetlands in accordance with Executive Orders 11988 and 11990. Floodplains and wetlands are shown on the referenced map. The map illustrates how the route avoids or impacts floodplains and wetlands. Because of project and topographic constraints and because of minimizing impacts to other social, environmental, and engineering resources, no practicable alternative may be available that would allow complete avoidance of impacts to floodplains and wetlands which may require mitigation for minimizing impacts. Also, best management practices would be utilized throughout the project to minimize adverse floodplain and wetland impacts. In compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, TVA will be coordinating wetland findings with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Contact

More information on this project can be obtained from:

Shane Beasley
[email protected]
800-362-4355
1101 Market Street, MR 4G
Chattanooga, TN 37402