TOPEKA (KSNT) – An energy company says construction on a new 94-mile transmission line, connecting Kansas to Missouri, which could save customers hundreds of millions, is finished ahead of schedule.
NextEra Energy announced that its Wolf Creek-Blackberry 345-kilovolt transmission line is now energized five months ahead of schedule and within budget on Thursday, Oct. 2. NextEra says the project “will remove bottlenecks” from the grid, leading to $350 million in customer savings over the 40-year lifespan of the project.
“Delivering this project ahead of schedule and on budget is a direct result of our team’s exceptional dedication and community leaders’ support,” said President of NextEra Energy Matt Valle. “This transmission line is a critical investment in economic growth and long-term energy reliability for communities in Kansas, Missouri and across the region.”
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The company reports the project has brought economic benefits like $55.6 million in new worker earnings, $145 million in new economic output and $28.2 million in tax revenue for counties during the development process.
The installment of the new transmission line was identified as a necessary economic project to increase the transmission capability and relieve congestion from western Kansas east to Southwest Power Pool (SPP) load centers.
NextEra said the 94-mile project is one of three other transmission projects that have been awarded by the SPP. The other projects will construct of 345 kV transmission facilities in Oklahoma and construct approximately 135 miles of 345 kV transmission line in New Mexico.
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NextEra filed an application in 2022 for the certificate in 2022 to build a 94-mile, 345 kV transmission line from the Wolf Creek Generating Station to the Blackberry Substation in Southwest Missouri. The line runs through five Kansas counties: Coffey, Anderson, Allen, Bourbon and Crawford.
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