Missouri PSC greenlights 15-mile transmission line, substation project by ATXI

Soon, 15 miles of transmission line and substations will be added to southeast Missouri as part of the Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois’ (ATXI) newly approved Limestone Ridge Project.

“Approval of the Limestone Ridge Project is a significant step toward strengthening southeast Missouri’s energy grid and delivering customer benefits,” Jim Jontry, project manager of the Limestone Ridge Project, said. “This project will deliver greater energy reliability, economic growth, and improved access to clean energy sources for southeast Missouri and its residents.”

Regulators at the Missouri Public Service Commission granted ATXI a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) last week, allowing it to connect two substations in Perry and Cape Girardeau counties through 138,000-volt lines. The goal is to boost capacity and reliability for the area’s energy infrastructure.

ATXI will handle the construction, operation, and maintenance of the new line itself. However, it intends to co-locate 65 percent of the new line along the Wabash Valley Power Alliance’s (WVPA) existing rights of way and is collaborating with it to make this possible. Project construction is expected to begin this year, and it is expected to be fully operational by December 2023.

ATXI expects to invest about $40 million into Limestone Ridge.