Transpark East, Kentucky (Warren County)

Update – March 2023

TVA has identified the preferred locations for transmission improvements that would provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the Bowling Green area of Warren County in Kentucky.

TVA evaluated each route using social, engineering, and environmental factors.  Information sources included available data, aerial photography, limited onsite reviews, public review and comment, and property owner input.  Based on public input and evaluation, the preferred route is expected to have the least overall project impacts of the alternatives.

Note: The proposed Interstate 65 Switching Station site referenced during the Transpark East Virtual Open House was found to have underground issues (karst/sinkholes) and therefore was eliminated from consideration.  A more suitable site has been identified and is now referred to as Site 3.  The name of the proposed switching station has been changed from “Interstate 65 Switching Station” to “Loving Switching Station.”  TVA proposes to build the Loving Switching Station on Site 3 (on Sunnyside-Gott Road) in phases with the first phase to be in conjunction with the Tap to Transpark East as part of this project.  The remainder of the switching station will be completed later as part of a separate project.

Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (RECC) will build the Transpark East, Kentucky 161-kV Substation on the north side of Fred Madison Road in Bowling Green.

TVA will build a 2.2-mile line beginning at the proposed Loving Switching Station then paralleling the existing East Bowling Green-South Glasgow line until right before the existing line crosses Interstate 65.  At this point, the line will parallel Interstate 65 for about 1500 feet before heading north to the new Transpark East 161-kV Substation.  This preferred route was presented as Route 11 during the virtual open house.

TVA has also identified preferred routes for future double-circuit lines:

• The future line from East Bowling Green to the Loving Switching Station will be 3.8 miles long.  This line will begin at a point just outside the northeast corner of the existing East Bowling Green 161-kV Substation.  It will parallel the property line headed southeast for about 900 feet and then head northeast for about half a mile.  At this point, it will head southeast for about 1500 feet and then east to terminate at the proposed Loving 161-kV Switching Station.  This preferred route was presented as Route 5 during the virtual open house.
• The future line from East Bowling Green to the South Scottsville, Loop into Loving Switching Station will be 3.7 miles long.  This line will begin about halfway between Structures 8 and 9 on the existing East Bowling Green-South Scottsville 161-kV Transmission Line.  It will head east for about three quarters of a mile and turn slightly heading northeast for about 2 miles.  The line will then turn north and cross Interstate 65 continuing to the proposed Loving 161-kV Switching Station. This preferred route was presented as Route 4 in the virtual open house.

The preferred locations for the lines were selected from several options presented online at a virtual open house from July 28 through August 29, 2022.  Since Site 3 for the Loving Switching Station was identified after the virtual open house, routes were adjusted to accommodate this alternative.  Based on public input and evaluation, the preferred locations are expected to have the least overall project impacts of the alternatives.

Surveys of the right of way are scheduled to begin in summer 2023.

Easement purchases are scheduled to begin in summer 2024.

Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2025.

The line is scheduled to be in service in summer 2025.

The National Environmental Policy Act review is pending. 

Background

TVA is considering improvements to its transmission system that would provide power for growing load and increase power reliability in the Bowling Green area of Warren County in Kentucky.      

This area is served by Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation (RECC).  Warren RECC is planning to build the Transpark East, Kentucky 161-kilovolt Substation on the north side of Fred Madison Road in Bowling Green.

TVA is proposing to build about 2 miles of single-circuit, 161-kilovolt transmission line to the new substation from our East Bowling Green-South Glasgow 161-kilovolt Transmission Line.  The new line would consist primarily of single-pole, steel structures centered on new 100-foot-wide right of way.

TVA also proposes to build the Interstate 65 161-kilovolt Switching Station north of Interstate 65 on the East Bowling Green-South Glasgow 161-kilovolt Transmission Line.  TVA is proposing two alternative locations for the Interstate 65 Switching Station.

1. Site 1 would be near Sunnyside Grott Road in Bowling Green, north of Interstate 65 and adjacent to TVA’s existing East Bowling Green-South Glasgow 161-kilovolt Transmission Line, about 0.4 miles north of the intersection of Sunnyside Grott Road and Interstate 65.
2. Site 2 would be on Goshen Church South Road in Bowling Green, adjacent to TVA’s existing East Bowling Green-South Glasgow 161-kilovolt Transmission Line, about 0.2 miles north of the intersection of Goshen Church South Road and Interstate 65.

TVA will obtain enough land (about 10-12 acres) at the Transpark tap point to ultimately accommodate 5 bays at the switching station in the future.

Additionally, TVA will identify and purchase right of way for future construction of two separate 161-kilovolt double-circuit power lines between the East Bowling Green Switching Station and the proposed Interstate 65 Switching Station.  Both rights of way will be 100 feet wide to accommodate primarily double-circuit, steel-pole structures.

• One approximately 5-mile-long right of way will begin at the East Bowling Green 161-kilovolt Switching Station and extend to TVA’s proposed Interstate 65 161-kilovolt Switching Station.
• One approximately 5-mile-long right of way will begin at a point on TVA’s East Bowling Green-South Scottsville 161-kilovolt Transmission Line and extend to the proposed Interstate 65 Switching Station.

There are 40 alternative line segments under consideration for the route of the new transmission line and 2 alternative sites under consideration for the new switching station.

• 11 segments from the East Bowing Green Switching Station to the Interstate 65 Switching Station
• 11 segments from the East Bowling Green-LaFayette line to the Interstate 65 Switching Station
• 18 segments from the Interstate 65 Switching Station to the Transpark East Substation

Property owners near and along the alternative transmission line segments have been invited to a virtual open house by mail – including about 84 property owners representing about 110 parcels.

The virtual open house is available from July 28 through August 29, 2022, at

tvavirtual.com/transpark

Property owners and members of the public are invited to submit comments and questions about this proposed transmission project through August 29, 2022.

The project is expected to be in service in summer 2025. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2024.(Dates are subject to change -- unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)

TVA held a virtual open house online from July 28 through August 29, 2022, to present the project.  Within this 30-day comment period, property owners and members of the public were able to submit questions and comments online, in writing, or by telephone.

(Dates are subject to change - unexpected issues may arise, resulting in the need to adjust the schedule.)