TRAVERSE CITY -- A new $5.2 million electrical transmission substation and power lines in East Bay Township could take the place of a contentious west side transmission line upgrade planned by Traverse City Light & Power.
It's one of several projects in Light & Power's proposed $130 million six-year capital improvements plan.
Light & Power board members hoped to build an upgraded electrical transmission line down M-72 to Bay Street, parallel to Grandview Parkway. It would serve as an additional power source into the city by connecting to Wolverine Power Cooperative's proposed substation at the corner of M-72 and Bugai Road in Elmwood Township.
But delays with the substation and likely opposition to the M-72 route led utility officials to rethink their plans.
International Transmission Company recently built an upgraded transmission line from Gaylord to Traverse City. Light & Power might be able to tap into that line, in lieu of upgrading the existing west side line.
The west side project isn't "completely off the table," Rice said, but he's focusing on the east side route.
Rice said he's considering a substation site near the intersection of Four Mile Road and Hammond Road in East Bay Township.
Light & Power would need special permits if it decides to build in East Bay, said township Supervisor Glen Lile.
"The people are going to have a chance to come in and voice their opinion," Lile said. "It isn't going be anything done without public input. I think everybody has seen what happened in Elmwood Township."
