FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) representatives today announced an approximate $51 million investment to upgrade the electric transmission network serving customers in northeastern DeKalb County.
The Hamilton-Butler Area Improvements Project involves:
- Building about 8 miles of new power line traveling east from Hamilton to County Road (CR) 77 south to CR 16 and west to CR 75 and then following the railroad tracks into Butler
- Rebuilding about 8 miles of line in the company’s existing right-of-way located just east of CR 61 between Butler and Hamilton
- Rebuilding the Butler Substation located near the intersection of South Federal Avenue and Walnut Street in Butler
Company representatives determined the proposed route for the new 8-mile power line after gathering and reviewing input from community members during a feasibility study announced last fall to assess possible upgrades to the local power grid. As part of that feasibility study, company representatives hosted a public open house in September for landowners in the area.
Contract Land Staff, I&M’s right-of-way representative for this project, plans to communicate with directly-involved landowners to discuss preliminary field work and property easements to ensure the safe construction, operation and maintenance of the power lines.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I&M and our contractors are limiting in-person visits with landowners during this process to ensure the public’s and our employee’s safety and health.
Crews are expected to begin construction in early 2021 and conclude in Fall 2022.
To view an interactive map of the proposed power line route visit the project website at IndianaMichiganPower.com/HamiltonButler.
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Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,370 employees serve more than 597,000 customers. More than half of its generation is emission-free, including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,600 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,300 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy Warner
Indiana Michigan Power Communications
Cell: 260-479-9484
tkwarner@aep.com