Published: August 23, 2006 11:38 am      

East Kentucky Power proposes to cross Madison with power lines

East Kentucky Power Cooperative, the Winchester-based, non-profit utility that supplies electricity to Bluegrass Energy and 16 other rural electric cooperatives, is proposing to traverse Madison County with a new set of high-voltage electrical lines.

The corridor will run 345-kilovolt lines from EKPC’s generating plant near the Clark County community of Trapp on the Kentucky River to a new switching station west of Lancaster in Garrard County.

For the most part, the lines would parallel an existing set of lines creating a corridor about 36 miles long and 150-feet wide, said Nick Comer, EKPC spokesman.

As the corridor approaches Interstate 75 from the east, however, the utility is examining two alternative routes that would take the new lines across Jacks Creek and Tates Creek roads. Just to the southeast of Tates Creek Road the new corridor would resume following an existing route toward Lancaster, according to a map released by the utility.

A Madison County “open house” to discuss the route the new lines might take across the county is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at the Best Western-Holiday Plaza on the Eastern Bypass at Exit 87 of I-75.

Property owners north and east of KY 595 are encouraged to attend the open house, said Comer.

Property owners south and west of KY 595, including all those in Garrard County, are invited to an open house at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Hyattsville Baptist Church, 1365 Richmond Road east of Lancaster.

EKPC has researched property records in the courthouses of both counties in an attempt to identify all property owners who may be affected by the project, Comer said.

“Invitations have been sent to these property owners, and advertisements have been published in local newspapers inviting interested citizens to attend,” he said.

Cooperative officials, including engineers, surveyors, easement negotiators and other technical staff will be available to answer questions at both events, Comer said. “We will have detailed maps and aerial photographs available, so that property owners can verify whether they might be affected by the corridor.”

EKPC will “seek to purchase” easements from owners whose property ultimately is needed for the power lines, but under Kentucky law, the utility has the power of eminent domain and can condemn the property of unwilling sellers.

According to EKPC, an easement allows the cooperative to locate poles and wires on or over property with the right to enter the property for needed maintenance. The cooperative also may clear and control the growth of trees that could interfere with power lines. The easements also prevent structures from being built in the power lines’ right of way.

“East Kentucky Power Cooperative will attempt to minimize impacts, visual, environmental and otherwise,” said Comer. The cost of running long-distance electrical transmission lines underground is “prohibitive,” according to a release from EKPC.

The lines will likely be borne by steel, H-frame supports, according to the EKPC release.

“The new lines are necessary,” Comer said, “to keep pace with the tremendous growth in Kentucky.” EKPC will soon add a 17th distributing cooperative, Warren RECC, to its Touchstone Energy network, its news release stated.

In addition to attending one of the open houses, citizens with a legal or economic relation to the project may become formally involved as a consulting party to the state and federally regulated process by writing to: Joe Settles, EKPC, 4775 Lexington Road, Winchester, KY 40391. Settles also can be reached by e-mail at joe.settles@ekpc.coop.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.