The Tennessean-Rutherford, Williamson residents fight TVA substation plan
The Tennessean
Rutherford, Williamson residents fight TVA substation plan
By CLAY CAREY
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, 05/11/06
About 30 rural Rutherford and Williamson County residents presented a petition to the Tennessee Valley Authority today challenging its efforts to build a major power substation in their communities.
“This isn’t just a bunch of people saying, ‘Hey, we don’t want to look at this,’” said College Grove resident Richard Davis, who helped organize the signature drive. “These people are saying this will destroy their lifestyle.”
TVA is considering four sites in southwest Rutherford County near the Williamson County line for a 500-kilovolt substation, which would encompass about 60 acres, and about 50 new miles of high-voltage power lines. The agency has said rapidly rising demands for energy in the area, especially in Williamson and Rutherford counties, make the new station a necessity. Without it, they say, TVA won’t be able to meet the area’s energy demands by 2010.
The community petition, which was presented to TVA this afternoon at the agency’s Murfreesboro customer service center, included around 1,200 signatures, organizers said. It was circulated in the rural areas around College Grove and Eagleville for about three weeks.
“There’s not a free flow of information,” said Williamson County resident Bryan Young, who was there when TVA received the petition.
He and others in the impacted area have said they knew nothing about TVA’s proposal until, in some cases, they learned the agency was considering land on or around their property for the project.
TVA’s proposals wouldn’t require Young or Davis to sell his property, but both said they know others in the community who would be directly impacted.
“We are not out here to say ‘No TVA, go away.’ … we are out here saying before you use eminent domain to take people’s homes, we want to see that you’ve explored all the other options,’” Davis said.
Specifically, he said, TVA should look at ways to promote conservation of electricity before looking to expand its infrastructure to accommodate rising demand.Published: Thursday, 05/11/06
Rutherford, Williamson residents fight TVA substation plan
By CLAY CAREY
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, 05/11/06
About 30 rural Rutherford and Williamson County residents presented a petition to the Tennessee Valley Authority today challenging its efforts to build a major power substation in their communities.
“This isn’t just a bunch of people saying, ‘Hey, we don’t want to look at this,’” said College Grove resident Richard Davis, who helped organize the signature drive. “These people are saying this will destroy their lifestyle.”
TVA is considering four sites in southwest Rutherford County near the Williamson County line for a 500-kilovolt substation, which would encompass about 60 acres, and about 50 new miles of high-voltage power lines. The agency has said rapidly rising demands for energy in the area, especially in Williamson and Rutherford counties, make the new station a necessity. Without it, they say, TVA won’t be able to meet the area’s energy demands by 2010.
The community petition, which was presented to TVA this afternoon at the agency’s Murfreesboro customer service center, included around 1,200 signatures, organizers said. It was circulated in the rural areas around College Grove and Eagleville for about three weeks.
“There’s not a free flow of information,” said Williamson County resident Bryan Young, who was there when TVA received the petition.
He and others in the impacted area have said they knew nothing about TVA’s proposal until, in some cases, they learned the agency was considering land on or around their property for the project.
TVA’s proposals wouldn’t require Young or Davis to sell his property, but both said they know others in the community who would be directly impacted.
“We are not out here to say ‘No TVA, go away.’ … we are out here saying before you use eminent domain to take people’s homes, we want to see that you’ve explored all the other options,’” Davis said.
Specifically, he said, TVA should look at ways to promote conservation of electricity before looking to expand its infrastructure to accommodate rising demand.Published: Thursday, 05/11/06
posted by BryanY. at 7:58 PM
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