ITC Great Plains Expansion in Kansas Approved
The Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) Board of Directors approved ITC Great Plains’ proposed 180-mile long transmission project (the Kansas V-plan) in the SPP Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP) during its scheduled quarterly planning meeting. ITC Great Plains is a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp.
The action by the Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors is a significant milestone and is a key first step in moving the Kansas V-plan ahead. ITC Great Plains looks forward to continuing our work with the Governor, the Kansas Corporation Commission, the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority; the Kansas Legislature, Southwest Power Pool and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as environmental and other community stakeholder groups to bring the Kansas V-plan and other much-needed, critical infrastructure to fruition in Kansas,” stated Carl Huslig, president of ITC Great Plains.
SPP is responsible for regional transmission planning and coordination in a multi-state area that includes all of Kansas. STEP is the regional planning process by which SPP plans and manages expansion of electric infrastructure.
“ITC Great Plains is committed to creating a robust regional electric transmission grid that will help balance electricity rates across the state by providing access to lower-cost or alternative generation resources to all Kansans,” stated Huslig.
On July 19, 2007, ITC Great Plains announced its intent to construct, own, operate and maintain a 180-mile long high-voltage transmission line commencing in Spearville, Kansas, running southeast to Comanche County, Kansas where ITC Great Plains will construct a new switchyard before heading northeast to terminate just outside of Wichita, Kansas. The project is part of the Southwest Power Pool’s X-Plan – labeled as such because it will form an “X” across southern Kansas, northern Oklahoma, and the panhandle of Texas.
“This is incredibly good news for our state – especially for Western and Central Kansas,” said Governor Kathleen Sebelius. “These new transmission lines will help our state harness wind potential and provide short and long-term investment in our communities.”
“ITC Great Plains believes additional high-powered transmission lines in Kansas supports the Governor’s and the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority’s vision for a robust transmission grid, advances the development of renewable energy, further ensures a reliable and secure transmission grid and will help spur economic development in Kansas,” Huslig further stated.