After months of study and gathering input from area landowners and public officials, American Transmission Co. and Rock Energy Cooperative have identified a route for a new 69-kV electric transmission line to serve the Milton area. The new ATC-owned electric transmission line will be approximately 4 mi long and will bring power to a new substation Rock Energy Cooperative plans to build near the Milton Industrial Park.

“We are pleased to be moving forward with this project,” says Denny Schultz, representative of Rock Energy Cooperative. “This line will benefit the area greatly by meeting the growing need for reliable electric service in the area and by supporting the continued growth of the Milton Industrial Park.”

ATC introduced the preliminary route corridors to the public in August 2009 and held two public open houses to gather input on possible routes. “Throughout the past several months we have worked closely with landowners, businesses and public officials to identify a suitable route for this new line,” says Jon Callaway, senior local relations representative for ATC. “The participation of Milton-area citizens in this process has been invaluable in helping to identify the best route option, one that offers reduced impacts on both the community and the environment.”

The next steps over the next several months, according to Callaway, involve pre-construction activities such as securing local permits, surveying, environmental and archeological review and soil testing. “In addition, we’ll be working with affected property owners to secure easements. We expect to begin construction of the power line next fall,” he adds.

The approximately $5.3 million line will connect an existing 69-kV transmission line that runs parallel to County Highway Y to a new Rock Energy Cooperative substation near the intersection of Harmony Milton Town Line Road and County Highway M. The western part of the new line will be mostly on agricultural land; the remainder of the line will follow Town Line Road, the future site of the realigned Highway 26 and County Highway M.