By Emma Rausch
emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Duke Energy will begin construction on its new, 69-kilovolt power line across Wabash farmland north of U.S. 24 “in the next several weeks,” according to Angeline Protogere, Duke Energy communications manager.
In February 2015, the electric company announced it would be constructing the approximately five-mile line, which would be supported by 70- to 80-feet-tall steel poles, to run from the Wabash Chippewa Substation to a new junction on County Road 100 East.
The line would create an alternate route for power to be distributed from the substation to the area.
Currently, there is only one line connected to the facility, which hinders the company’s ability to reroute power if and when line repairs need to be made, according to the announcement.
“The demand for power has grown in Northern Indiana and Wabash County is no exception,” Protogere told The Paper of Wabash County. “This project is about improving the reliability of the county’s power delivery system by adding a new, 69-kilovolt power line from the Wabash Chippewa Substation.
“This project will tie together major power transmission lines in the county, creating a loop for the area. When there’s a transmission-level outage, we can reroute power and restore service quickly when a loop is in place.”
The company originally expected to begin construction in fall 2015 with completion expected by summer 2016, according to the announcement.
However, the project hit a roadblock.
Landowners, whose farm ground would be crossed by the line, spoke out against the project citing that it would negatively affect their farming businesses.
The affected landowners eventually formed a “unified committee” in March 2015 to stand against the development as a team.
However, eventually, “we were able to get (utility easements or land right) agreements from most of the landowners,” Protogere said.
She did not confirm or deny if Duke Energy enforced eminent domain on the remaining landowners.
Now after almost two years since it’s original announcement, the project will finally begin construction.
The project will “generally” follow the same route originally planned, as “there were no major changes,” Protogere explained.
“We needed the additional time to try and work out agreements with the landowners,” she said.
While the project does not have a confirmed start date as of The Paper’s deadline on Monday, Jan. 23, Duke Energy is targeting completion for the end of March, according to Protogere.
It has not yet been determined if work will begin at the Wabash Chippewa Substation and move east or travel east to west, she said.