Appalachian Power to reduce transmission towers in Kanawha State Forest

LOUDENDALE, W.Va. — Appalachian Power says its Kanawha Valley Area Transmission Reinforcement Project will have it working in parts of Kanawha State Forest from now until the summer of 2017.

The utility announced Friday previously approved work by the state Public Service Commission will include reducing the current 11 miles of transmission line right-of-way and 49 towers in the popular forest near Charleston to 5.5 miles of right-of-way and 21 towers. 

This is the kind of tower Appalachian Power is replacing in Kanawha State Forest.
This is the kind of tower Appalachian Power is replacing in Kanawha State Forest.

“That’s less than half of what is currently there,” Appalachian Power spokesman Phil Moye said.

(Read brochure describing forest work here)

The company has put out a special brochure to explain the work to Kanawha Forest users.

“We’re just paying a little extra attention to making sure people understand what we’re doing, when we’re doing it and how that work might impact them,” Moye said.

The work in the forest will take place in phases. The first phase is building access roads and clearing the right-of-way. Moye said the company doesn’t plan to close any trails for a significant amount of time. Hikers may have to be stopped temporarily.

The new, taller towers are made of darkened steel.

“There is going to be less than half of the total number of towers. You are getting a little taller of a tower to accommodate the newer, heavier lines we’re putting in, but we are also reducing the overall number of towers,” Moye said.

Appalachian Power has been in ongoing discussions with forest officials.

“We want to make sure they know exactly what we’re aiming to accomplish and how we can best do that to minimize the impact to the people who use the forest for recreation,” Moye said.

Kanawha State Forest has been a sensitive subject in recent months with a expanding surface mining project taking place nearby. Forest users have been calling for the mining permit to be rescinded. The latest public protest took place at Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s State of the State Address last week.





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