BURLINGTON — NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest has completed a major regional power project ahead of schedule. The company announced last week the energization of the Wolf Creek–Blackberry 345-kilovolt transmission line, a 92-mile connection running from Coffey County, Kan., to Jasper County, Mo. The line was finished five months earlier than required and within budget.
The line’s route traverses Coffey, Anderson, Allen, Bourbon, and Crawford counties in Kansas, and Barton and Jasper counties in Missouri. Allen County hosts about 25 miles of the project — the most of any county — with approximately 58 of its 220 affected property owners located there. The line cuts diagonally through the county, entering north of Carlyle near 1400th Street and exiting east of Elsmore near the Bourbon State Fishing Lake.
THE PROJECT, awarded by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) in October 2021, is part of SPP’s 2019 Integrated Transmission Plan, developed to strengthen the regional power grid by easing congestion and improving reliability while providing a more cost-effective energy network across the Midwest.
Over its expected 40-year lifespan, studies show the project could save customers more than $350 million, generate $28.2 million in tax revenue for counties along the route, and provide long-term support for new business and industrial growth. It is also expected to bring several broader benefits, including lower electricity costs for consumers, job opportunities both during and after construction, and local economic investment. Officials say it will enhance the reliability of the electric grid and support public health and safety by ensuring access to consistent power.
“Delivering this project ahead of schedule and on budget is a direct result of our team’s exceptional dedication and community leaders’ support,” said Matt Valle, president of NextEra Energy Transmission. “This transmission line is a critical investment in economic growth and long-term energy reliability for communities in Kansas, Missouri and across the region.”
CONSTRUCTION OF the line also brought short-term economic benefits, including an estimated $55.6 million in new worker earnings and $145 million in new economic output. Local and state officials said the project demonstrates the importance of investing in infrastructure that keeps pace with growing energy needs.
Sen. Michael A. Fagg, chairman of the Kansas Senate Committee on Utilities, said the new line will play an important role in keeping energy reliable and affordable. “Kansas understands the importance of affordable and reliable energy now and in the future,” he said. “The Wolf Creek-Blackberry transmission project moves Kansas forward with our energy needs for the future.”
BUSINESS LEADERS also pointed to the project as a model for future development. “As we are seeing demand for electricity growing rapidly across our region, it is critical that we protect competitive transmission development like this to ensure we’re building the infrastructure Kansas businesses need to thrive while keeping costs affordable for everyone,” said Eric Stafford, vice president of government affairs at the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
The Wolf Creek–Blackberry project is the second of three transmission lines awarded to NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest by SPP. The company said work on the remaining project continues.
