Sunscape Project

Transmission Line Routing Process
Selecting a route for an electric transmission line is an evolution. Throughout the process, attempts are made to limit the overall impact of the line on its surroundings while maintaining a technically buildable design. There are many factors that are considered in developing a transmission line route.

In the Sunscape Project, preliminary study corridors were developed based on all publicly available data, seeking to limit impacts by identifying the most direct path that avoids known constraints (where possible) with special emphasis on avoiding homes. The following partial list includes sources of information used to determine constraints (or areas to consider) in developing preliminary corridors:

  • Aerial Photography (Housing, wetlands, land cover)
  • Field Reconnaissance (Housing, historic resources, visual resources, wetlands)
  • Local Government (Local Expertise, GIS and Resource Mapping, Visual Resources)
  • Comprehensive Plans/Land Use Mapping
  • US Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wetlands Inventory)
  • US Geological Survey (USGS) Topographic Maps (Geological, land use, topography)
  • Federal Aviation Administration (Flight Paths)
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (Flood Plains)
  • National Park Service (Trails, Historic Sites, Scenic Rivers and Parkways)
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service, under US Department of Agriculture (Soils)
  • Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) (Recreation and Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species and Conservation Lands)
  • Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (overall environmental review)
  • Virginia Department of Historic Resources (Historic and Archeological Resources)
  • Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife)
  • Virginia Marine Resources Commission (state rivers and streams)
  • Virginia Outdoors Foundation (conservation easements)
  • DCR  & Virginia Speleogical Survey (karst topography)

The preliminary corridors are then compared to US Geological Survey topographic maps and adjustments were made for topography. Appalachian develops preliminary proposed study corridors and takes them to the public, local, state and federal officials for comment.

Appalachian employees collect feedback from these entities, then they develop a preferred proposed 500-foot-wide corridor (or corridors) in which the company will ultimately an 80-100-foot wide right of way.

The 500-foot-wide preferred corridor proposal is submitted to the Company’s regulator for approval. In Virginia, transmission lines of 138,000 volts or higher must be approved for construction by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC).  The SCC will usually hold public meetings and again take public input on the proposal.

If the SCC approves a 500-foot-wide corridor, Appalachian works with individual property owners to identify the best location within that corridor to locate the 100-foot-wide right of way the project will require. The Sunscape Project transmission line will only require an 80-100 foot wide right of way, not the entire 500-foot wide study corridor.