A proposed 220-mile electricity transmission project could cross Franklin, Madison, Union and Pickaway counties, bringing five new high-voltage lines from the Indiana-Ohio border to Guernsey County. The Grid Growth West plan calls for four 765-kilovolt lines—the highest voltage transmission lines in use in North America—and one 345-kilovolt line. The overhead structures would stand roughly 150 to 200 feet tall. No final route has been chosen. PJM Interconnection, which manages the regional electric grid, selected Grid Growth to develop the project in February. The stated aim is to expand grid capacity and reliability. PJM forecasts that electricity demand across the region will grow by nearly 4,800 megawatts by 2032. Grid Growth points to increased use of data centers, electrification and other technologies as drivers of demand. At a Thursday open house in Marysville, some Union County residents questioned how possible routes might affect their homes and farmland. Jennings Heflin said he was concerned that lines near his property could reduce his home's value. Garrett Leeds said his family has farmed land passed down by his grandfather and worries a line could cut through the property. Grid Growth spokesperson Scott Blake said the project could bring construction work and additional property-tax revenue to communities where facilities are built. He said the company is gathering input from landowners, neighbors, residents and local officials, alongside technical, environmental and regulatory considerations. Public feedback for the first planning phase is being collected through Oct. 15. The company says it expects to narrow potential study segments to a preferred route by the end of 2026, announce that route in early 2027 and hold another round of public meetings. A public input session is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 28, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Edwards Building at the Franklin County Fairgrounds.