Appalachian Power holds open house on Central Virginia Transmission project

Appalachian Power will hold a series of open houses for the Joshua Fall –Gladstone phase of the Central Virginia Transmission Reliability Project.

The Joshua Falls–Gladstone phase involves building about 15 miles of transmission line and improving four substations in Amherst, Appomattox, Campbell, and Nelson counties. The project – which will provide a new electrical source for the region – consists of several phases that will take place over the next few years.

The first set of open houses were held in November 2019. Company representatives conducted field studies, met with landowners, and reviewed input from the community to narrow the route options.

“A second set of open houses allows us to engage with additional landowners and gather more feedback,” Larry Jackson, director of external affairs for Appalachian Power, said. “The project team wants to ensure we select a line route that minimizes impact on the community.”

The new set of open houses are scheduled for Feb. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Appomattox County High School and Feb. 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Amherst County High School. Community members are invited to attend. Attendees may come and go at any time to ask questions, view maps, and submit suggestions to the project team. The input will help determine a line route. The project team plans to select a line route this summer, and then it will seek approval from the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

If approved, construction for the Joshua Falls – Gladstone phase will begin in the summer of 2022.

Appalachian Power, a subsidiary of AEP, has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee.