North American Windpower: Rock Island Seeks Route Approval For 3.5 GW Clean Energy Transmission Line

in News Departments > Projects & Contracts

by NAW Staff on Thursday 11 October 2012

Rock Island Clean Line LLC, an affiliate of Clean Line Energy Partners LLC, says it has requested public utility status and approval to build a 500-mile high-voltage direct-current transmission line that will deliver 3.5 GW of wind energy from northwestern Iowa to Illinois and other states to the east.

In its application to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Rock Island formally requested approval of a route for the line. The company's proposed route resulted from more than two and a half years of routing work, during which project representatives met with thousands of landowners to gather feedback, collected thousands of routing comments and considered hundreds of different potential routing alternatives, Rock Island explains.

The company did not, in its application to the ICC, request eminent-domain authority for the Rock Island Clean Line project.

In May, Rock Island obtained a key regulatory approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to begin negotiating transmission service agreements with potential customers.

The company also recently signed a development agreement to partner with Omaha, Neb.-based Kiewit Power Constructors Co. Under the agreement, Kiewit will provide development and permitting support, as well as engineering and construction services, for the project.

Don't miss the latest wind energy news -- register to receive NAW's news headlines.

Latest Top Stories

As U.S. DOJ Investigates, Duke Works Adaptive Management Plan

With previous golden eagle fatalities reported at two company-owned wind farms in Wyoming, Duke Energy Renewables is going to great lengths to protect raptors.

DOE To Recast Landmark 20% Wind Energy Report; Study Looks Back, Ahead

The U.S. Department of Energy will update its 20% Wind Energy By 2030 report, which indicated increased levels of wind penetration for the U.S. is not only possible but feasible.

Wind Energy Procurement Top Of Mind For Big-Name Companies

With greater frequency, top-tier companies are discovering the economic and environmental power of wind energy and upping their investments in the resource.

WINDPOWER Panelists Issue A Call To Arms: Protect RPS Mandates

Votes on several legislative bills concerning state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are nearing. How can you help protect and maintain these development drivers?

Wind Industry Still Awaits First Eagle-Take Permit Under BGEPA

The first wind developer to apply for a take permit under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act has withdrawn its application.