Opposition to Big Hill Line Transmission – Berea, KY

September 2, 2025

President Cheryl L. Nixon
Berea College – Office of Academic Affairs
210 Lincoln Hall

Berea, KY 40404

Dear President Nixon

I write to express my strong support for Berea College’s position opposing the proposed Big Hill Line transmission project. The College has clearly articulated valid environmental, economic, and mission-driven concerns regarding this project, and I commend your leadership in standing firm on behalf of the College Forest, the Berea community, and future generations. Kentucky Heartwood shares this commitment, as our mission is to protect and restore the native forests of Kentucky through science, advocacy, and community engagement. We recognize that projects like the Big Hill Line not only threaten ecological integrity and water security but also undermine the cultural and natural heritage that sustains our communities. In solidarity with Berea College, we affirm that long-term forest protection and community well-being must guide our collective vision for Kentucky’s future.

The Big Hill Line poses significant risks to the ecological integrity of the Berea College Forest and to the Owsley Fork Reservoir watershed, which provides critical drinking water for Berea and surrounding counties. Despite repeated requests, East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) has failed to provide sufficient data on potential impacts to water quality, threatened and endangered species, or the long-term viability of the proposed route. Seeking to proceed under a categorical NEPA exemption without conducting full assessments of water quality, ecological health, habitat impacts, and historic resources is both irresponsible and contrary to federal environmental standards.

The College Forest is more than land; it is a living laboratory, a cultural resource, and a foundation of Berea’s mission of sustainability and service. The proposed project threatens to undermine these efforts, compromise ecotourism and sustainable forestry practices, and undo decades of investment in habitat restoration.

Equally concerning is the broader direction this project represents. Expanding infrastructure to perpetuate dependence on fossil fuels is inconsistent with the urgent need to transition toward clean, renewable energy. Kentucky, like the nation, must prioritize distributed solar, battery storage, and modernized grid solutions that enhance resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Investments in outdated energy models not only degrade ecosystems but also delay the just transition to climate solutions our communities desperately need.

Thank you for your leadership and vision in elevating this critical issue. I stand with Berea College in urging a re-examination of this project and in advocating for solutions that protect natural resources while advancing a clean energy future.

Warm regards,

Johanna Delgado Acevedo, Ph.D.

Director, Kentucky Heartwood

director@kyheartwood.org