While actual construction on the project is still a year and a half into the future, beginning today Indiana Michigan Power is hosting a virtual open house regarding their proposed investment of more than $17-million to increase reliability of electrical service for Berrien County customers.
I&M’s Benton Harbor-Fair Plain Transmission Line Rebuild Project, due to start next year, will especially ensure customers in Benton Harbor and Fair Plain continue to have safe and reliable electric service.
The project includes:
- Upgrading approximately 7 miles of 34.5–kilovolt (kV) transmission line to 69 kV standards.
- Rebuilding some sections of the high voltage transmission line in I&M’s existing right-of-way and re-routing other sections.
- Upgrading wooden power poles to steel monopoles.
The project will help reduce outage durations times and promote economic growth in this portion of Berrien County.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), landowners and community members are invited to a virtual open house to learn more and share input, particularly on possible route options. The “Open House” is an online, self-paced, opportunity that you can peruse at any time by clicking this link:
https://aeptransmission.com/michigan/BentonHarbor/open-house/index.html
You can visit this link: http://IndianaMichiganPower.com/BentonHarbor to access additional project information, view an interactive map and submit comments through the “Contact Us” link until February 26th.
The company encourages landowners to provide input to help determine a final proposed power line route that minimizes impacts to the community and environment.
Construction on the year-long project is set to begin in the fall of 2022 and conclude in the fall of 2023.
