TVA Extending Public Comment Period for Proposed Transmission Project in Clay County, NC

TVA

Press Release

The Tennessee Valley Authority recently announced that it is extending the public comment period for proposed transmission system improvements to continue to serve growing electrical load and increase power reliability in the Clay County area of North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC is planning to build a substation on Burnt Schoolhouse Road in Clay County. TVA has proposed to build about 7.7 to 9.5 miles of single-circuit transmission line to serve the new substation. The new line would be built using primarily single-pole structures (with the possibility of two-pole, H-frame structures in hilly areas) centered on a new 100-foot-wide right of way. 

TVA hosted a public open house related to the project on Dec. 4, 2025, and a 30-day public comment period also began on that date. Feedback received during the initial comment period provided valuable information to support a thorough analysis of options being considered. TVA will continue to accept feedback until a decision is made on a preferred route later this spring.

Comments can be submitted by contacting TVA's John West toll-free at 800-362-4355, by email at newtransline@tva.gov, or by mail to: John West, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1101 Market Street, MR4G, Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801. In addition, TVA has extended the time period that individuals can share comments online.

After the announcement of a preferred route, the TVA siting team will continue dialogue with specifically impacted property owners on any fine adjustments that can be made to the route to minimize impacts. Construction is currently slated to begin in winter/spring 2028, with the project completed and in service in 2029 (dates subject to change).