Alabama Power Co., which supplies electricity to more than 1.4 million residential and commercial customers, will install 3M's high-capacity aluminum conductor, composite reinforced (ACCR) transmission conductor to upgrade a key line at its Miller steam plant. The Miller plant is located in Jefferson County, Alabama, U.S. approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Birmingham, Alabama.

3M's ACCR can carry more than twice the current of conventional steel-core conductors of the same diameter, generally with no new tower construction or rebuilding because of its relatively light weight, low sag and high strength. Alabama Power's 1.7-mile (2.7-km) upgrade, using 3M ACCR 1033 kcmil 54/19 Curlew, will boost transmission capacity on a line that goes through and loops around the Miller steam plant.

The upgrade is part of Alabama Power's ongoing, multibillion dollar environmental initiative, designed to reduce emissions from its power plants.

“The existing line crosses below three 500-kV lines and above one 230-kV line and is supported on five existing lattice steel structures,” says Howard Samms, a senior engineer at Alabama Power. “The 3M conductor allowed us to obtain the required capacity, while utilizing the existing structures and maintaining or improving the existing clearances to ground and other obstacles. As a result, significant savings were achieved in both time and cost by eliminating the need for the design, supply and construction of new towers.”