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.
Please note that we have been made aware that other utilities have been in the area while working to bid on a project in the region that is separate from this NW Power and Northeast Power project. We intend to remain as transparent as possible throughout this process, and we will only complete work in the area after first notifying landowners and stakeholders. If you are curious about anything being completed around your property, please reach out to us.
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 will this line be routed?
The new route for the project generally runs from ATXI’s existing Zachary substation in Adair County to the NW Power Locust Creek substation in Sullivan County. Approximately 18 miles will be located in NW Power’s territory and 15 miles (33 total miles) will be located in Northeast Power’s territory.
NW Power and Northeast Power place a high priority on developing a viable line route that takes landowners' potential concerns into consideration. Public meetings and landowner outreach efforts were held to ensure we are responsive to these concerns.
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.
Preliminary Preferred Route
In the summer of 2023, NW Electric Power Cooperative (NW Power) and Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative (Northeast Power), which are the respective power suppliers for North Central Electric Cooperative and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, held informational meetings to discuss a transmission project in Sullivan and Adair counties.
The updated map below reflects the preferred route identified through ongoing assessments and valuable input received during those meetings. Cooperative representatives continue to meet with affected landowners to answer questions and provide details about the project.
All project partners—Ameren and the electric cooperatives—are now working to obtain their respective easements along the approved route for the co-located transmission line.
As locally owned and operated electric cooperatives, we believe it is important to seek input from landowners that may be impacted by our projects. We greatly value the feedback provided during the informational meetings, as it provided critical input to make routing decisions that align with our mission to operate transparently and deliver financially responsible solutions in the best interests of our cooperatives and the members they serve.
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.