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New subsation to serve as backup source of electricity for Russellville

Ground has been broken on a new industrial substation for the Russellville Electric Board that will provide a backup source of electricity to Russellville in case of a catastrophic event like the April 27, 2011 tornadoes.

The new substation is located at 490 Walnut Gate Road, next to the MS Industries II, LLC, plant. The substation will be 30 MVA, 161 KV/12.47 KV with seven feeder breakers and associated feeder regulators.

The project will require distribution line improvements/additions to include 0.4 miles of single circuit improvements/additions as well as approximately 4.3 miles of double circuit improvements/additions. The cost of the project is estimated to be $6,640,000.

With MS Industries expected to be a large customer, and Russellville Electric Board’s largest customer, CertainTeed Saint Gobain, located right across the street, the substation is in a strategic location.

“CertainTeed will benefit with this project for reliability purposes, and we hope it will help attract new industry out here as well,” said REB manager Charles Canada.

The land for the substation was deeded to REB from the Russellville Industrial Development Board after MS Industries agreed to release the two square-acre tract.

Stewart Engineering of Anniston is the firm providing engineering services and oversight for the construction of the project.

“The substation has been part of our five-year plan, and we are excited to see the new substation finally materialize,” Canada said. “The board began discussions about five years ago after the storm damage from the tornado that devastated Hackleburg and Phil Campbell as well as other areas in Franklin County. The storm was so close to Russellville that if it had tracked just a few miles further north Russellville could have been severely impacted.

“This got us thinking, if something happened to the existing Tom Pace Substation on South Jackson Avenue that it could possibly be months before electricity could be restrored to Russellville.”

The project will provide a backup source of electricity supplied by the Tennessee Valley Authority, and TVA has conducted surveys and studies, all of which supported the construction of the new facility.

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