(CAMERON and PALMYRA, MO.) – NW Electric Power Cooperative (NW Power) and Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative (Northeast Power) hosted open houses in Sullivan and Adair counties on May 16-17 regarding a proposed transmission line project in the area. The events invited landowners and stakeholders to become informed about the project, ask questions and assist in the routing process for the line.
“As locally owned and operated electric cooperatives, we are committed to seeking project input and operating transparently to deliver financially responsible solutions in the best interests of our cooperatives,” says Douglas Aeilts, CEO/General Manager, Northeast Power. “The open houses were valuable opportunities to live out our values and hear directly from residents in the communities we serve.”
NW Power and Northeast Power are the respective power suppliers for North Central Electric Cooperative and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, which provide electric service to areas of Sullivan and Adair counties. To continue to reliably meet the long-term needs of the member-distribution cooperatives, NW Power and Northeast Power have identified a need to upgrade transmission infrastructure in the region.
“Transmission infrastructure is a foundation necessary to provide cooperative members with safe, reliable and affordable electric service,” says David McDowell, CEO/General Manager, NW Power. “Ensuring we meet the long-term needs of our members is a responsibility that NW Power and Northeast Power take seriously.”
Based on extensive research by engineering and planning teams, the cooperatives jointly recommend constructing a new 161 kV transmission line running from Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois’ (ATXI) Zachary Substation (south of Kirksville) to NW Power’s Locust Creek Substation (west of Milan).
ATXI is also interested in constructing new transmission facilities throughout this region. To ensure impacts to landowners are minimized, NW Power and Northeast Power are coordinating routing efforts with ATXI. Ultimately, this coordination may determine that the co-location of facilities is beneficial, resulting in a single double-circuit 345/161 kV transmission line being constructed.
Learn more about the project by following the link below.