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Power surge: TVA adding line for predicted Madison County growth

HUNTSVILLE – The Tennessee Valley Authority has selected the location where it plans to route a new transmission line in advance of continued growth around the Rocket City.

The agency said its new power line would increase power reliability at Redstone Arsenal and nearby areas in Madison County.

The route will begin off Hobbs Island Road in south Huntsville, near the railroad tracks at Linde Road. It will extend east/northeast for approximately 2.7 miles.

The line will then turn north to connect to Redstone Arsenal at the southwest corner of the post’s property. The new line would be less than 4 miles and built using primarily single-pole, steel structures on a 100-foot-wide right of way.

(TVA/Facebook)

The preferred route is one of the several that were proposed at an open house in March and a virtual open house held from March 21 to April 22.

According to TVA, the preferred route is expected to have the least impact on the area, based on public input from the in-person open house and virtual open house and additional evaluation of other factors, including social, environmental and engineering impacts. A National Environmental Policy Act review is also pending.

TVA will meet with property owners along the proposed right of way to obtain easements for construction, operation, and maintenance of the line. Property owners would still own the property and be compensated for the easements at fair market value, TVA said.

TVA is expected to begin surveys this fall and start acquiring easements in the winter. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer of 2026 and be completed that fall. A map of the project and additional information are available at tva.com/transmissionprojects.

TVA reports the region is growing three times faster than the national average and the University of Tennessee’s Baker School projects the region’s population to grow 22% by 2050. To support this growth on a local level, TVA said it is investing $2.8 billion to strengthen the power grid across its service area to help ensure the agency can deliver clean energy to local power companies while maintaining the region’s energy security. 

For information on TVA rebates and incentives, visit energyright.com/rebates.

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