I&M to launch $51M upgrade of DeKalb County transmission network in 2021
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) announced an approximate $51 million that will be available for electric transmission network upgrades in northeastern DeKalb County, Ind., next year.
The upgrades are expected to be completed in Fall 2022.
The announcement, issued this week, can be broken down into two areas: building and rebuilding. Dubbed the Hamilton-Butler Area Improvements Project, these efforts will involve approximately eight miles of new power line to be installed along the eastern route from Hamilton to County Road 77, south to CR 16 and west to CR 75, following the area’s railroad tracks into Butler. Beyond this, another 8 miles of line within the company’s existing right-of-way east of CR 61 — between Butler and Hamilton — will be rebuilt. The Butler substation will also be rebuilt at the same time.
A feasibility study has already been conducted, leading company representatives to the new 8-mile power line route. Community input was gathered and reviewed as the company determined possible means of upgrading the local power grid. As the right-of-way representative on the project, Contract Land Staff will communicate with directly-involved landowners about preliminary fieldwork and property easements needed to guarantee safe construction and operation of the impending power lines.
For the moment, any in-person visits linked to these efforts will be limited, though, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing recommendations currently in place.
