Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI) has secured Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and final line route approval for construction of the $150m Spoon River transmission project in Illinois, US.
Designed to improve reliability and provide access to renewable energy, the 345kV transmission project is a part of the company’s effort to provide reliable, efficient and environmental friendly energy.
ATXI chairman and president Maureen Borkowski said: "This project will benefit the state’s economy, create jobs and provide Illinois electricity customers greater access to lower-cost energy and electricity from renewable sources, such as wind energy.
"It also will improve transmission system reliability in and around the project area."
Scheduled to be completed in 2018, the project comprises single-shaft steel poles in Illinois between Galesburg and Peoria.
The project work is scheduled to commence in late 2016.
The Spoon River transmission project, which is expected to create approximately 100 construction jobs, is also expected to improve electric system reliability, reduce transmission congestion and support the State of Illinois to meet its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).
In 2011, Ameren Transmission announced its plan to invest $1.3bn over the next ten years to improve its transmission system network across the US.
The project is one of the MISO multi-value projects (MVP) which secured approval from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), a regional transmission organization, in 2011.
Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois is engaged in electric transmission infrastructure investment and expanding Ameren’s transmission system of more than 7,500 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines in Illinois and Missouri.
Image: Ameren plans to provide reliable, efficient energy. Photo: courtesy of nirots/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.