(Story courtesy of WVLT News)
Knoxville, TN (WVLT) The Tennessee Valley Authority and Sevier County Electric System are working together to provide more power for the growing community.
TVA has created a project to make another substation and transmission lines to bring more power to the Waldens Creek and Wears Valley areas.
Neighbors in the area are concerned about two of the three proposed lines that would be right up to their property line.
Sevier County neighbor Noah Bradford said, “Nobody wants to see marred up lands. You come here to be in the mountains, and we’ve worked hard on to make sure there’s not any overdevelopment.”
Noah and his wife, Haley, are worried about the future of their area if TVA moves forward with one of the two lines near their home.
“We want them to have more power. We want Waldens Creek to have more power, just not at our detriment,” Bradford said. “There’s no benefit for us. I mean there’s really no gain for us for at least 20 years down the road. The property value loss, the rental value loss.”
Sevier County Electric System asked TVA to create a plan to provide more power to the area. General manager of the electric system, Allen Robbins, said it’s essential for the county as it continues to grow.
“You’re trying to make sure that we’re delivering power reliably and safely, and the low growth out of the north Pigeon Forge station has grown just because of the development in all of those areas,” Robbins said.
TVA and Sevier County Electric System have already heard from the public about the three proposed lines. Robbins said they will take their concerns into account before starting the project.
“No one wants it in their backyard. We understand that,” Robbins said. “TVA will do their due diligence, and they’ll take all of the concerns and comments that will be made and are being made and the make the best decision possible to have the least impact on our customers.”
Haley Bradford hopes the companies look at other solutions for the future of the project.
“Just move it back farther. Move it off of people’s properties and permanent residences,” she said.
TVA will accept public comment through March 24th. The plan is to start construction on one of the three lines in the fall of 2026. The goal is to have it running by winter 2026-27.
