COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Power Siting Board approved without comment Thursday a new power line through portions of Youngstown and Campbell that’s expected to improve service reliability.

The siting board’s decision grants a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to American Transmission Systems Inc., a FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary, to install a 6-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line between the existing Lincoln Park and Riverbend substations. 

The Riverbend Substation also will be “upgraded to an advanced design that will help reduce the frequency and duration of power outages, and the Lincoln Park Substation will be upgraded to accommodate the new transmission line,” according to a fact sheet on FirstEnergy’s website.

It also said the project is expected to enhance “service reliability and performance for approximately 15,000 customers and support residential and business expansion plans in the area.”

In 2022, the board rejected the project, which at that time was to run along the Mahoning River and near the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre, Wean Park and Covelli Centre. Elected officials, community leaders and many residents had voiced opposition to that plan, and the siting board unanimously rejected it. Opponents also objected to the height of some of the planned utility towers.

The new plan, which was presented at a public open house last year, changed the route and decreased the pole height. The height of the support structures is expected to be about 70 to 150 feet tall, according to documents submitted to the siting board.

It will begin at the Lincoln Park substation, trend southeast, then northeast and end at the Riverbend substation.

“By working with the community, we developed a solution that strengthens the local electric grid, supports local growth and respects the needs of residents and businesses,” a FirstEnergy spokeswoman said in a statement via text. “This work is vital to the local community because it will help keep the lights on for more than 15,000 homes and businesses in and around Youngstown. This project will bring real economic value to the Mahoning Valley because it will make room for new jobs, new businesses and future growth.”

The project is expected to create 23 temporary jobs during construction in 2027 and 56 temporary jobs in 2028, she said.
 
“Once the project is complete, FirstEnergy Transmission company, ATSI, will continue contributing to the community through yearly property tax payments,” the statement said. “In the first year alone, the project is expected to generate about $4.1 million in local taxes – money that will directly support Mahoning County, Youngstown City and Youngstown City Schools, as well as the City of Campbell and Campbell City Schools. This investment strengthens the local economy today while building a foundation for long‑term growth.”
 
The statement said the roughly $27 million project includes:

  • A backup power source for the Riverbend Substation, which serves 5,000 customers, and the Lincoln Park Substation, which serves 10,000 customers. This backup source will help reduce outages and speed up repairs.
  • Stronger support for places like St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown State University, the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and hundreds of homes and businesses.
  • A design that uses steel poles, usually 70 to 85 feet tall. A few poles may be about 100 feet tall where needed, such as near the South Street Bridge.

Documents filed with the siting board said ATSI plans to complete transmission line engineering design in September 2027, with construction expected to start that November and be completed in December 2028.

The board’s approval, though, came with recommended conditions outlined by siting board staff that include considerations for vegetation, aviation, air and water. It also requires the company to notify affected property owners and tenants at least seven days before construction starts.

General construction activities will be limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or until dusk when sunset happens after 7 p.m. Impact pile driving, if required, will be limited to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m Monday through Friday.