CEP congratulates the Southwest Power Pool Board of Directors on their decision to re-include the proposed 765 kV transmission line from Wichita to Spearville as part of a package of six Priority Project lines to receive further study, and to be reconsidered by the SPP Board in January.

Kansas needs this transmission line. It will serve thousands of megawatts of wind development in the state - development that is currently stymied due to a lack of transmission. With wind development will come millions of dollars in economic development for not only Kansas, but for the entire SPP region. The Kansas legislature has also passed a mandatory RES, and Kansas utilities need this line in order to meet their renewables requirements.

Kansans stand behind this line. The Kansas Electric Transmission Authority (KETA) has endorsed it, and it has received preliminary approval from the Kansas Corporation Commission. Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson and members of the Kansas congressional delegation have spoken out in favor of it. Westar and ITC Great Plains stand ready to pursue additional regulatory approvals and begin construction.

There is still a long ways to go, but this provisional approval is definitely a major step in the right direction.

NANCY JACKSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROJECT (CEP)
jackson@climateandenergy.org

For additional resources on this decision and its history:

Some background on the Priority Projects and the Integrated Transmission Plan from the CEP blog:

Potential bummer on the Priority Projects

SPP Priority Projects, Integrated Planning Process, and Cost Allocation

Other regional/ interconnection-wide transmission planning processes

A sampling of KS media coverage on the SPP decision

Hutch News, John Green - Kan. transmission project re-energized

Kansas City Star, Steve Everly - Kansas power line is a priority again

Topeka Cap-Journal/ AP - Transmission line project back

Wichita Eagle, Dan Voorhis - Board: Wind power line deserves more study

The SPP also made major steps on the Integrated Transmission Plan and cost allocation.