Alabama Power blocked from Shelby County property by judge

A Shelby County judge has issued a preliminary injunction restraining Alabama Power from entering the property of homeowner Fenn Church to work on a transmission line. The legal battle centers on a portion of Church’s Calera property that the utility company sought to condemn to facilitate the construction of a 70-mile-long transmission line.

Circuit Judge Jonathan Spann ruled that a temporary delay is warranted to allow for adequate adjudication, noting that the project remains on schedule because other areas are available for work in the interim. Church’s legal team stated they had offered alternative routes to avoid the property, but Alabama Power attorneys maintained those alternatives were not feasible.

Following the decision, Alabama Power released a statement expressing commitment to treating property owners fairly and noting they are evaluating next steps. The company emphasized that the project is a vital investment in grid security and reliability.