The public can learn more next week about a transmission line project that will cut through Allen County, but county commissioners got a preview ahead of time.
Representatives from NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest called in to Tuesday’s meeting to talk about the project. They’ll be on hand from 10 to 11 on next Tuesday morning, then again from 6 to 7 that evening for a virtual open house. See details below for access.
The project is mandated by the Federal Energy Commission to reduce congestion on energy transmission lines and provide a lower cost to consumers, NextEra’s representatives said.
NextEra was selected by the Southwest Power Pool to construct a new 94-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line from the Wolf Creek substation in Kansas to the Blackberry substation in Missouri.
The line will cut through about 20 miles of Allen County, entering the county from a few miles northwest of U.S. 169 at the Anderson County line and run diagonally to the southeast corner near Elsmore, entering Bourbon County near the Bourbon State Fishing Lake.
It also cuts through Coffey, Anderson, Bourbon and Crawford counties. Crawford and Allen will have the largest portions of the line.
It will then enter Barton and Jasper counties in Missouri, completing the line from Wolf Creek substation to the Blackberry substation.
The project is expected to begin construction sometime in mid-2023 and wrap up by Jan. 1, 2025.
It is expected to provide $25 million in revenue to Kansas and $4 million to Missouri over the next 40 years.
It could also result in savings to customers of about $23.7 million, as less congestion on energy lines is expected to save costs. Over 40 years, customers could save $377 million.
NextEra said it is committed to using local vendors and material as much as possible.
NextEra is currently securing easements from landowners.
Tuesday’s meetings are designed to answer questions from the landowners and others who have an interest in the property.
To register for the event, go to surveymonkey.com/r/WCBB
You can call in at 816-298-0271. For the morning session, use code 853 4019#. For the evening session, use code 869 083 596#.
