More power for future growth

By Hollice Smith
The Daily Sentinel

Published November 20, 2006

TVA is making plans to double the capacity of electrical power available to an industrial area of Bridgeport to meet future growth and to improve its reliability of supply in that vicinity.

Roger Sparry of Chattanooga was in charge of the "open house" to discuss the proposed project with property owners from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 16, in the North Alabama Electric Cooperative auditorium in Stevenson. Sparry is TVA manager of Siting and Environmental Design Transmission Line Projects, Chattanooga. Several other TVA officials were present to assist.

There are four substations the proposed line would feed into, Sparry said. Those are at Beaulieu Plant One, Beaulieu Plant 2, U.S. Gypsum Co. and the Reese Ferry Subdivision.

Sparry said this open house was to obtain input on alternate routes for the five miles of line carrying 161,000 kilovolts of electricity. He said he was "surprised and really pleased this many people had come out." The exact figure was unavailable.

Sparry said he was pleased that so many people came to the initial session although they have up to 30 days to submit their recommendations to TVA.

He estimated the project will cost $2.5- to $3 million, based on the average cost being about $600,000 per mile, but this could vary as the exact routes have not been determined. That is what this meeting was about - to get input and recommendations from people in the area.

Bruce Purdy, general manager of North Alabama Electric Co-op, said the proposed new transmission line is a positive for power reliability for all industrial customers in the Bridgeport service area.

Purdy stated, "We appreciate TVA putting in the time and effort to design this project with individual land owners. It is in everyone's best interest if the project causes the least amount of pain for everyone involved. I feel confident everyone will come to the most reasonable solution."

Sparry said, "Currently, a large electric load is served by a single, older TVA transmission line. This line crosses standing water in a flood plain and steep terrain. Loss of this line caused by pole failure or lightning, for example, could result in extended loss of service (up to 48 hours) to the customers now served by the existing line, including the industries. In addition, all maintenance must be done with the line in service since the line cannot be taken out of service. The system improvement proposed by TVA would create a second electric feed to the area."

Sparry stated, "By continuing to provide affordable, reliable power, TVA and North Alabama Electric Cooperative will help ensure continued economic health and residential and commercial growth in the area."

Bridgeport Mayor John W. Lewis said Thursday morning the need for more retail/industry in that virtually undeveloped area is just a matter of time. He stated, "There will be new retail stores and may be manufacturing as well. I presume TVA has some long range plans for the future and they are getting prepared for it."

He said cities must look beyond tomorrow and next week to 20 years down the road. "You need to build up your infrastructure and this is a part of that infrastructure. You don't wait until industry announces it is coming to get prepared. You try to prepare yourself for it. This will create more jobs and create more economy for Bridgepoort, Stevenson and Jackson County."

Lewis said he is delighted TVA has those plans and feels this is in line with long range planning he has been trying to get across to people for years. "I don't think Scottsboro would have been what it is today if it had not been for (the late mayor) John T. Reid. He was a man of vision and Scottsboro is realizing a lot of his efforts and achievements today...20 years or so after he has been dead. You need people like that in Jackson County because without it you are going to remain status quo."

The project schedule of estimated dates are: End of public comment period December 18, 2006; announce preferred route for field surveys, January 2007; complete environmental review, Fall 2007; begin easement purchase, Spring 2008; begin construction, Fall 2008; and Project completion, Spring 2009.