Ameren Illinois has received approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to construct a new 138-kV transmission line aimed at enhancing energy reliability for businesses and residents in the LaSalle County area.
According to the company, the project will establish additional energy pathways, reducing power outage frequency and duration. The new transmission line will connect Ameren Illinois’ substation in Oglesby with its substation near North Utica.
Construction is slated to commence in spring 2024, with the new line expected to serve the local community and offer benefits by summer 2025. The project will be competitively bid and carried out by Illinois-based union electric workers.
Ameren Illinois organized a series of informational meetings to gather input from the public and key stakeholders to determine the best route for the new transmission line. The ICC’s certificate of public convenience and necessity now provides the green light for the chosen route and the commencement of construction.
"As we work to create new pathways to bring more energy to the region, we’re also providing an economic boost to the area and keeping the construction jobs here at home,” said Stephanie Thomson, Ameren’s Project Manager of the LaSalle Link Project. “The approval of this project is a significant milestone toward improving energy reliability for local residents and businesses.”