Missouri Public Service Commission grants Grain Belt Express request to construct transmission line

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved a request by Grain Belt Express Clean Line LLC (Grain Belt) to build, own and operate a high voltage, direct current transmission line and associated facilities within eight Missouri counties.

The project would traverse the states of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, including approximately 206 miles in the Missouri counties of Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Randolph, Monroe, and Ralls.

“There can be no debate that our energy future will require more diversity in energy resources, particularly renewable resources,” the PSC said. “We are witnessing a worldwide, long-term and comprehensive movement towards renewable energy in general and wind energy specifically. Wind energy provides great promise as a source for affordable, reliable, safe and environmentally-friendly energy. The Grain Belt Project will facilitate this movement in Missouri, will thereby benefit Missouri citizens, and is, therefore, in the public interest.”

The Commission noted that any negative impacts of the project on land and landowners will be mitigated by a landowner protocol to protect landowners; superior compensation payments; a binding arbitration option for easement negotiations; a decommissioning fund; and an agricultural impact mitigation protocol to avoid or minimize negative agricultural impacts.

“Missouri’s Public Service Commission just handed consumers a big win by approving the Grain Belt Express project,” said Amy Farrell, senior vice president of Government and Public Affairs at American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “Upgraded and new transmission lines open up America’s low-cost clean energy resources for consumers and make our grid even more resilient.”

The PSC noted that no more than nine acres of land in Missouri will be taken out of agricultural production because of project structures and that the proposed route does not directly impact the operation of any existing center pivot irrigation systems.

“Many of the landowners’ concerns will be addressed through carefully considered conditions placed on the CCN,” the PSC said.