Georgia Power shocks homeowners with plan to build transmission line through historic Decatur, Scottdale

On November 14, 2024By Littum

DECATUR, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Families in one of Atlanta’s oldest metro neighborhoods are searching for answers after discovering Georgia Power plans to build a 115 kV transmission line through some properties.

“For a 25-foot swath, they’ll cut down every tree that falls in that area,” said Andrew Rutledge, a resident of historic Decatur.

Georgia Power’s Scottdale Transmission Line Project is slated to replace a 60-year-old line between Scottdale and Decatur. Project managers say they are looking at running the line from Scottdale down Annie Street to East Ponce de Leon Avenue, down Sycamore Street, along East College Avenue, to the Decatur substation next to the Trackside Tavern.

“Our team is very thoughtful when it comes to planning projects of this scale and complexity,” said Misty Fernandez, Georgia Power’s Atlanta regional director.

The residents feel that the decision was made without their knowledge or approval.

“Under the wire, so to speak,” Rutledge joked.

Families feel left in the dark by Georgia Power’s plans to install huge transmission lines through their neighborhoods.

“This is going to run through the back of my property, which is residential. We had no input on that,” said Scottdale resident Eddie Towson.

The move even caught the city and DeKalb County off guard.

“The city’s responsibility is to protect the residents, protect their property,” said Andrea Arnold, Decatur’s city manager.

Arnold says Decatur city leaders met with Georgia Power executives Monday to talk about alternative routes for the line.

“They listened to our concerns and they are willing to put the Decatur portion of the project on hold to allow Georgia Power staff as well as city staff to sit down and talk about some potential alternatives,” Arnold said.

As the day progressed, people stopped to look at signs about a meeting with Georgia Power on Tuesday night. Many said it was the first they heard about the construction.

“I was driving today and I saw the signs on the side of the road,” said Jordan Brown, who added that he was not opposed to the transmission line as long as it didn’t come at the expense of trees or homes.

Executives with Georgia Power say no final decision has been made for the project.

“The purpose of tonight’s meeting is to take what we have designed over several years and get the public’s input on this. Because the stakeholder, the community engagement in this, is very important to us,” Fernandez said.

Some people had no idea the construction was going to happen until Georgia Power showed up to buy their land.

“The great thing about Georgia Power is not only that they have the ability to do whatever they want, they also try to bully everyone they come across,” Rutledge said.

Janie Thompson has lived in historic Decatur since the early 1980s. Named after its first owner, it is called – no joke – the House of Death.

“The poor man’s name was Harry Death,” Thompson said.

The Death House was originally located about a quarter of a mile away in what is now Sycamore Park. Only the steps remain. The home was moved in one piece to its current location to make way for the MARTA line.

Now it could be in Georgia Power’s crosshairs. Current renderings have the line running through part of Thompson’s farm.

“I would look for another alternative,” Thompson said. “I don’t want people to go without electricity, but come on!”

“We will have some more public information meetings,” Fernandez said. “We will have more meetings with city management and community leaders. We will also have other ways for customers to engage with us and provide their input.”