KCC approves new energy transmission lines in Kansas

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has approved of a siting plan for two transmission lines to connect wind and solar farms in the state to the Grain Belt Express.

The KCC made the announcement in a press release on Thursday, Sept. 26 that it has given approval with conditions to a siting plan for two 345 kV transmission lines. These are also known as the AC Collector System and are designed to connect wind and solar farms to the Grain Belt Express.

One line is set to run 46 miles through parts of Ford, Mead and Gray Counties while the other is 16 miles and will move through parts of Ford County. Grain Belt Express is required to file a routing analysis comparing the company’s originally proposed route of the Mead-Dodge City line to an alternate route as part of the conditions imposed by the KCC.

The study is due to be completed by Jan. 15, 2025 at which point the KCC will schedule another public hearing and comment period for local landowners to voice concerns. The first public hearing was held on July 10 this year.

Grain Belt Express is a company that wants to transmit wind and solar energy from Kansas to other places in the Midwest . You can learn more about the company by clicking here.

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