Transmission Line Siting Project

Between 2004 and 2007, western Union County, particularly northern Waxhaw and the area north of Waxhaw along Highway 16, experienced rapid growth that resulted in a 36% increase in electrical demand on Union Power’s electrical distribution system in the area. To maintain electrical service reliability in the area while providing electrical capacity to serve continuing growth, Union Power acquired a parcel of land for an electrical substation and in early 2009 began a comprehensive siting process for a 100,000-volt transmission line to deliver electricity to the new station.

Facilities Planning & Siting, PLLC, was contracted to assist Union Power in conducting the siting study to determine the route location of the Twelve Mile Creek transmission line, identifying all practical routing opportunities. The fair, balanced, and comprehensive siting process included the collection and analysis of massive amounts of environmental, land use, scenic, and cultural resource data. It included public involvement consisting of community workshops where concerns and issues were identified and addressed in a public forum. The Cooperative also provided several ways for the community to furnish information directly to the siting experts.

Twenty-three different routes were considered, culminating in the selection of the route that best minimized affects to environmental resources, land use, cultural resources, and aesthetic resources. In mid-2009, a 2.9-mile corridor was selected for the new transmission line.                                                        

Once the route for the transmission line was selected, the Rural Utilities Service reviewed and approved the siting study’s environmental report, and the Cooperative obtained all applicable local, state, and federal permits necessary for the construction. This included permits from Waxhaw, for the substation, and from Union County, for the construction of the transmission line. Easements were acquired for the construction of the line.

Construction of the project is currently underway. Substation construction began in November 2011, and construction of the transmission line will begin in June, 2012. Anticipated completion of the project in its entirety is scheduled for the end of 2012.

This project is an essential part of Union Power’s efforts to maintain power quality and reliable electrical energy over its entire service area.

Click on the link below to view a map of the transmission line route. 

Twelve Mile Creek Tap Line and Substation Site Location Map.pdf