Officials from Appalachian Power explained to Fayette County residents how they plan to improve the electric transmission systems in an around Fayette County during a public meeting at Midland Trail High School on Tuesday evening.
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Construction on a $56 million transmission improvement project will begin in Fayette County come November, and representatives of Appalachian Power Company hosted a public workshop Tuesday at Midland Trail High School in order to gather community feedback before construction officially gets underway.
The project’s final result — an improved transmission grid — will address the existing voltage, thermal and reliability issues identified by PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission operator responsible for planning and operating the grid.
The scope of the project includes:
Building approximately nine miles of new 138 kV transmission line and two miles of 69 kV transmission line;
Rebuilding and upgrading approximately 14 miles of existing 69 kV transmission line to operate at 138 kV between Fayette and Greenbrier counties;
Removing about 4.5 miles of existing 69 kV line and two existing substations (Beury Mountain Switching Station and the existing Brackens Creek Substation), and;
Constructing two new substations in the area of the existing Beury Mountain and Brackens Creek substations.
Appalachian Power Corporate Communications Manager Phil Moye said that the project will address the power outage issues often experienced by the eastern side of Fayette County…