As industry grows in the historically rural areas around central Ohio, demand for electricity in Delaware and Licking counties is expected to quadruple by 2027. To meet that demand, AEP Ohio Transmission Company is working through the process to build new high-voltage transmission lines.
The project "stems from the rapid economic development that's happening in northeast Columbus, specifically Delaware and Licking counties," said Brian Recker, an outreach specialist who supports the Ohio region for AEP transmission line projects.
"At the current demand in that area, the load is about 500MW. And by 2027, with the amount of customers and just opportunities in that area, it's expected to rise to about 2,000MW," Recker said. "In order to continue to supply reliable electricity for the area with existing customers and new customers, we're proposing to build two transmission lines going from Sunbury down to the New Albany area."
The company wants to build two 13-mile transmission lines. The 345-kV lines would travel southeast from the Vassell substation south of Sunbury to two new substations near where Franklin, Delaware and Licking counties meet.
The company earlier this month filed paperwork informing the communities in Licking and Delaware counties affected by the coming project including New Albany, Johnstown, Berkshire, Harlem, Trenton, Jersey and Monroe townships.
That line will connect the Vassell substation just south of East Granville Road outside of Sunbury to a new substation, just off Green Chapel Road.
Another new 345-kV line would connect the Vassell substation to a new substation southeast, near the intersection of Tippet and Johnstown Utica roads. The notification process for that line began in January.
Before construction can begin, easements have to be worked out with property owners. About 17 of the 65 easements have been worked out for the Vassell-Green Chapel line, according to AEP's filings.
The land will support 150-foot towers in a 150-foot wide corridor, Recker said.
Recker said AEP uses a formula to calculate payments for the land owners, based on the size of the lot, the type of structures on the lot and how the lot is zoned.
"We have right of way agents that reach out individually to property owners to discuss the direct involvement with them," Recker said. "Then we work with them to negotiate an easement where we would provide a one-time payment in order to construct, operate and then maintain the transmission line in the future."
Recker said the company involved the community in the discussions early on, through open houses and working with property owners to make minor adjustments to the route to make it easier on them.
"This area of Columbus is rapidly changing, so we want to make sure that we're working closely with landowners in the area to make sure that our plans can align with what they're planning to do as well," Recker said.
Recker said a lot of planning and development went into selecting the route.
"Our project team members, we tried to do everything we could to minimize impacts to the area," Recker said. "If we could go in more rural areas, we would try to do that. And then also, environmental impacts like tree clearing, wetlands and those things. We're all gathering that data to make the most informed decisions with the two line routes."
Local officials offered support for the project.
"Certainly the several data centers either established or planned in the region need power," said Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb. "In fact the ability to enhance the grid’s local capacity will have significant influence on the future and nature of growth and expansion."
Scott B. Sanders, Executive Director of the Delaware County Regional Planning Commission, said the project is emblematic of the change coming to the area.
"There are always concerns as to the impact such changes have on property values and future development desirability, just based on the appearance of the towers and any clearing that is required. On the other hand, development has been occurring in Delaware County around similar facilities for years. You just have to get used to the crackle," Sanders said.
In New Albany, officials said in a statement that the project "will bolster our region's energy reliability and resilience."
Recker expects construction to start in the fall.
