What
Appalachian Power proposes to build an electric distribution station to serve parts of the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County. The station will besupplied by a proposed transmission line approximately two miles long. An electric station converts electricity so it can be distributed throughout a locality to serve businesses, factories or residences.

Where - Station Site Selection Process
Stations need to be centrally located as near as possible to electrical users  (businesses, factories, residences). This is the idea of the “load center”.

The electric load center in this area can generally be described as near the intersection of Colonial Avenue and Wright Road. A good distribution station location should be within a half-mile radius of the load center.

The Sunscape Project site selection team will work with landowners near the load center in an attempt to find suitable property for a station.

To check the visual aspects of this site, landscape architects will analyze the site using the latest measurement techniques, and recommend ways to make it blend with the existing environment.

How
This station has two main parts, the access road and line corridor, and the station site. The station site is approximately 3.5 acres.

The station site is a cleared and graded area, onto which a gravel bed is placed. The electrical transformers, circuit breakers, and other equipment are installed on this gravel bed. The construction will be low-profile to help reduce visual impacts. The company will attempt to utilize natural buffers, vegetation and topography to help reduce visual disturbances caused by the station. A building is constructed for the electronic equipment, which measures the electricity and controls the circuit breakers and switches. A fence encloses the building and all the equipment.