Zachary to Locust Creek Transmission Project
NW Electric Power Cooperative (NW Power) and Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative (Northeast Power) jointly support siting and routing of a new 161 kV transmission line running from the Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI) Zachary Substation to NW Power's Locust Creek Substation.
What is the Zachary-Locust Creek Transmission Project?
The Zachary-Locust Creek Transmission Project is a new 161 kV transmission line running from Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois’ (ATXI) Zachary Substation (south of Kirksville) to NW Electric Power Cooperative (NW Power) Locust Creek substation (west of Milan), that is being jointly coordinated by NW Power and Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative (Northeast Power).
During open house meetings in 2023, the project was presented as a co-location effort with ATXI. After several months of delay, the project is now moving forward as a joint co-located transmission line between ATXI and NW Power/Northeast Power. This collaboration allows both utilities to share a common corridor, reducing land impacts while improving reliability for members across the region.
Why is the Zachary-Locust Creek Transmission Project needed?
To reliably meet the long-term needs of our electric cooperative members and communities, our engineering and planning teams have identified a need to upgrade transmission infrastructure in the region. Transmission infrastructure is a foundation of providing electric cooperative members with safe, reliable and affordable service.
Like our members, we belong to the communities we serve. We care about doing what’s best to meet short- and long-term needs for regional stability, potential growth and overall prosperity. Building this project secures much-needed infrastructure reliability for cooperative member-consumers’ ongoing and future needs.
How does northern Missouri benefit from this project?
Improved transmission infrastructure benefits the regions they are located in by enhancing the efficiency of the regional transmission system, increasing access to energy sources and improving overall transmission system reliability. In addition to the easement payments to impacted landowners, the counties within the planned transmission route will benefit from tax payments to the county. Local economies often benefit from the new construction jobs and investment.
Project Route
Conceptual Structure Design Options
The conceptual design for this project features a double-circuit steel monopole structure that will support ATXI’s 345 kV line on one side and the 161 kV line owned by Northeast Power (serving Adair County) and NW Power (serving Sullivan County) on the other. The illustration below provides a general representation of the structure type, including typical materials, height ranges, and foundation specifications for this style of design.
Additional Zachary to Locust Creek transmission project information.
For Sullivan County landowners and stakeholders seeking information on NW Electric Power Cooperative's portion of the Zachary to Locust Creek Transmission Project, visit NW Electric Power Cooperative.