Black Hills Energy seeks approval for 260-mile, $260M electric transmission expansion in Wyoming

Black Hills Energy requested approval from the Wyoming Public Service Commission (WPSC) this week for an approximately 260-mile, $260 million electric transmission expansion project known as Ready Wyoming.

Under the plan, Black Hills’ electric utility, Cheyenne Light Fuel and Power (CLFP), would add a substation, replace two others, expand four substations, add three 230 kV transmission lines and two additional 115 kV transmission lines. Construction would begin next year, with phases running through 2025. It would be a massive uptick in CLFP’s portfolio, which currently includes approximately 44,000 electric customers, 1,300 miles of electric distribution, and 58 miles of electric transmission lines.

“We’re excited by this opportunity to provide long-term benefits for our customers,” Mark Stege, vice president of Wyoming Operations, said. “Ready Wyoming will allow us to meet our customers’ energy needs today and well into the future while enhancing the resiliency of our electric system and expanding access to power markets and renewable energy resources.”

Stege also cited a study by the University of Wyoming Center for Economic and Business Analysis, which predicted Ready Wyoming would support nearly 1,400 construction-related jobs and pump more than $100 million into the economy. Further, he noted that the expanded transmission system could bring additional economic development by attracting customers such as blockchain and data centers.

Along the way, Black Hills Energy noted, customers will be granted long-term price stability and additional flexibility in the face of changing and evolving markets. It would also intertwine the company’s transmission systems more thoroughly, uniting Cheyenne, eastern Wyoming, and South Dakota.