One of the most recognizable structures in Miami County is the county courthouse in downtown Troy, the statue of Lady Justice rises 185 feet above the city. That scale matters as Miami County begins to consider a proposed electric-transmission project that could place structures nearly as tall across parts of the county’s rural landscape.
Grid Growth Ventures is studying potential routes for the Grid Growth West Transmission Line Project, a proposed set of high-voltage lines across western and central Ohio. The project includes two 765-kilovolt transmission lines totaling about 111 miles and a separate 345-kV double-circuit line of roughly 36 miles. In Miami County, preliminary study segments run through northern and northwestern portions of the county, with alternatives involving Shelby County and areas near Piqua, Covington, and the county’s eastern boundary toward Champaign County.
No final route has been selected and that point deserves pointed out; but it is clear that Miami County is certainly on the mind of the project planners. The lines on the map are study segments, not approved corridors or final property impacts. Grid Growth says it will refine its options after receiving public feedback and completing environmental, engineering, cultural-resource, and land-use reviews.
Still, the scale is not abstract. Grid Growth says a typical 765-kV structure would stand about 175 feet tall (just 10 feet shorter than the Miami County Courthouse) and require a typical right-of-way about 180 feet wide. Exact structure heights and right-of-way needs could vary by location, but the comparison gives residents a realistic sense of what is being considered.
Miami County is not unfamiliar with high-voltage electric infrastructure. Existing transmission lines already cross parts of the county. But a 765-kV line would be a different order of magnitude: taller structures, a broader corridor, and a permanent presence across farm fields, homesites, drainage patterns, future development areas, and the visual character of the landscape.
The Miami County Commissioners have publicly opposed a route through the county. Their statement argues that a project of this size could have lasting effects on property owners, farmland, communities, and future development. State Representative Johnathan Newman has similarly urged the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to pursue a northern alternative, arguing that a route through Miami County could undermine local economic growth and investment.
Their opposition does not settle the matter. The project ultimately requires approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board, the state body that reviews applications for major energy and transmission facilities. Grid Growth expects to submit its applications in spring 2027, and its current schedule anticipates a decision later that year. Residents will have additional chances to comment during a second round of public meetings in early 2027 and through the formal OPSB process.
For now, the immediate opportunity for Miami County residents is September 30. Grid Growth will hold an open house from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at Romer’s Catering Piqua Ballroom, 201 Robert M. Davis Parkway. There will be no formal presentation; residents can speak directly with project representatives, review preliminary study areas, and submit local information that could affect route development. The company is accepting comments through October 15.
Grid Growth’s case for the project is straightforward. The company says PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, identified future reliability concerns and selected Grid Growth in early 2026 through a competitive process. Its public materials cite increasing demand from data centers, electrification, and other technologies, and forecast nearly 4,800 megawatts of additional regional demand by 2032.
The company also argues that the project will create construction jobs, local spending, tax revenue, and a stronger grid. It cites industry and federal research suggesting that every $1 invested in infrastructure can generate $1.50 to $2.50 in broader economic activity. That may be true at a regional level. But residents of Miami County should reasonably ask a more local question: what specific reliability, capacity, ratepayer, or economic benefit will they receive in exchange for hosting the infrastructure?
That question is particularly relevant as Piqua considers major new electricity demand associated with a proposed data-center campus in the south part of the city. Piqua operates its own municipal electric system, but the city’s existing supply arrangements and prospective new infrastructure raise understandable questions about whether local development is contributing to the need for larger regional facilities.
There is not yet public evidence that the proposed 765-kV line through Miami County would directly serve the Piqua data-center site. Nor is there evidence that the project is being built solely because of that development. Grid Growth describes the project as a broader PJM reliability and transmission-capacity initiative. But the emergence of large electricity users in and around Miami County makes it appropriate for residents to demand clarity about who is driving demand, who pays for new infrastructure, who benefits from it, and how local residential customers are
High-voltage transmission may be necessary to maintain a reliable electric grid. That is not the point in dispute. The issue is whether the need has been clearly demonstrated, whether Miami County is the least-impactful location, whether local residents will share in measurable benefits, and whether the public has enough information before a preferred route is selected.
A 175-foot transmission tower is not just another utility pole. It would be nearly as tall as the courthouse that has defined Troy’s skyline for generations. Miami County residents should not be asked to accept infrastructure of that size based on broad promises alone. They deserve a full accounting of the local costs, the regional need, the alternatives considered, and the benefits that will actually come back to the people living beneath the line.
This is what it looks like when residents stay informed. If you find value in this work, share it with a neighbor, a colleague, or anyone who cares about this community. Paid subscriptions keep it going — $5 a month.
Civic Capacity runs on one thing: readers who believe local journalism matters. If you want to support this work without a subscription, you can now make a one-time contribution through Buy Me a Coffee — or in my case, Buy Me an Iced Tea. Click the button below. Every contribution goes directly into the work you read here every day.