Appalachian Power to request approval for modernization, reliability project in five Virginia counties
Appalachian Power seeks to bring transmission systems from the 1920s and 1940s into the modern age by introducing a 138-kilovolt (kV) electrical system in central Virginia, known as the Virginia Transmission Reliability Project.
The company intends to file with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) later this month to gain approval for the first three phases of the four-phase project. That project will involve replacing 46-kV and 69-kV equipment that have been in use since the 1920s and 1940s, respectively, including the construction of miles of transmission line.
“The project team reviewed multiple route options, discussed the options with landowners, and reviewed the impacts of each route,” George Porter, Appalachian Power spokesperson, said. “The team was committed to selecting a route that minimizes the project’s impact on the community and environment while strengthening the local power grid and providing continued reliable electric service to our customers.”
The first phase, which covers Joshua Falls to Gladstone, will consist of 17 miles of new line in Amherst, Appomattox, Campbell, and Nelson counties. Along the way, three electrical substations will be expanded. The second, Amherst – Reusens phase, will involve rebuilding approximately 12 miles of transmission line in or near the existing right-of-way in Amherst County. Amherst and Monroe substations will be expanded in the process.
The third and final phase being pursued will cover from Shipman – Schuyler in Nelson County. Approximately 1,000 feet of transmission will be built, along with two new substations. Once finished, two existing substations in Shipman and Schuyler, Va., will be retired, along with 38 miles of transmission line in the area.
Before proceeding with any of this work, Appalachian Power investigated future land use and environmental impacts and sought input from property owners in the region. It intends to mail those property owners additional information on the project approval process and next steps. A fourth and final stage of the project, the Esmont – Scottsville phase, will be pursued at a later date, once approval is gained from Albemarle County officials. It will include the rebuilding of approximately 6 miles of transmission line and upgrades to two substations.
