Iowa greenlights $221 M grid project
The Iowa Utilities Commission has approved ITC Midwest’s plan to rebuild and upgrade transmission lines across four counties as part of a wider regional grid programme.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Iowa: The Iowa Utilities Commission has approved ITC Midwest’s request to rebuild and upgrade a transmission line running through Marshall, Tama, Benton and Linn counties. The project involves adding a 345-kV line to an existing 161-kV route and forms part of a wider set of regional grid improvements.
The approved work is included in Tranche 1, a group of transmission projects endorsed by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) board in 2022. MISO oversees energy system operations in Iowa, 14 other US states and one Canadian province. The estimated cost of the Iowa line is $221 M, while the full Tranche 1 portfolio carries an estimated value of $10.3 B.
According to ITC Midwest spokesperson Rod Pritchard, the project will involve removing the existing structures and rebuilding the line as a double-circuit configuration that carries both 345-kV and 161-kV circuits on the same structures. Using a double circuit will reduce the number of structures needed per mile. The new poles will range from 38 to 52 m (125 to 170 ft) in height and will be spaced roughly 245 to 365 m (800 to 1,200 ft) apart.
Known as the Morgan Valley–Twinkle project, the rebuilt line will run from the Twinkle substation east of Marshalltown to the Morgan Valley substation near Fairfax. Around 5.6 km (3.5 mi) will pass through Linn County. A 115-kV line in Benton County along the same route will be taken out of service and removed.
ITC Midwest said the project will support grid reliability, reduce overload risks and improve access to diverse generation resources.
The Commission also granted permission for ITC to use eminent domain for one parcel in Tama County. ITC has two years to begin construction and holds approval through 2050 unless modified earlier.
Source: The Gazette
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