BOTETOURT CO., Va. – Appalachian Power is moving forward with plans to upgrade its electric transmission system in Botetourt County and is inviting residents to learn more about the project during a public open house Wednesday evening.
The utility’s proposed Daleville Area Transmission Improvements Project includes upgrades to existing transmission lines and substations aimed at meeting growing electricity demand from projects such as the incoming Google data center campus while also improving reliability for existing customers.
According to Appalachian Power, the project would upgrade about seven miles of existing 138-kilovolt transmission line with larger-capacity wire and rebuild approximately 10 miles of transmission line by replacing both wire and structures. Most of the work would occur within or near existing rights-of-way.
The company also plans to upgrade the Cloverdale, Trinity, Mount Union and Botetourt substations, construct a new substation and build about one-tenth of a mile of new transmission line.
George Porter, a spokesperson for Appalachian Power, said the upgraded transmission line would serve as the primary source of power for the new customer while strengthening service for the surrounding area.
“It has benefits for not only the new customer coming in, but for existing customers around the territory as well,” Porter said.
Porter said the utility had already identified the area as a candidate for infrastructure improvements before the new customer announced plans to locate in the county.
“A lot of our infrastructure has been out in the territory for 50, 60, 70-plus years,” Porter said. “Anytime you have equipment that old, you’re going to run into some issues.”
He added that Appalachian Power routinely evaluates its system for upgrades and said the project allows the company to modernize aging infrastructure while accommodating future growth.
The open house is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Read Mountain Middle School in Cloverdale. There will be no formal presentation, allowing residents to stop by at any time to review maps and speak directly with project representatives.
Porter acknowledged that nearby residents and landowners can expect construction impacts during the project but said the company hopes the open house will help establish communication with the community early in the process.
“Anytime we have a project, we understand construction. We know it’s going to be inconvenient for a lot of our property owners,” Porter said.
He also said the company wants residents to raise concerns as the project moves forward.
“We can’t fix what we don’t know,” Porter said.
Landowners within the project area are expected to receive information packets with additional details about the proposal.
Appalachian Power plans to file an application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission this summer. If approved, construction is expected to begin in fall 2027 and continue through late 2029.
Porter said the company bringing the new electric demand to the area has agreed to pay for the infrastructure needed to serve its project.
“The company that’s coming in has agreed to pay for all associated infrastructure,” Porter said.