Project to Transmit Wind Energy to Midwest
Over the past year, ITC Holdings Corp., has worked to develop the "Green Power Express," a network of transmission lines that would facilitate the movement of 12,000 megawatts (MW) of power from the wind-abundant areas in the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa to Midwest load centers, such as Chicago, southeastern Wisconsin, Minneapolis, and other states that demand clean, renewable energy.
"We are proud to announce the Green Power Express after almost a year of studies, stakeholder discussions, and development," said Joseph L. Welch, ITC chair, president and chief executive officer. "The plan is consistent with efforts supported by organizations such as the Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative and promotes a national energy vision."
The Green Power Express transmission project will traverse portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana and will ultimately include approximately 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage (765kV) transmission. The entire project is currently estimated to cost between $10 billion to $12 billion. Portions of the Green Power Express fall within the service territory of ITC Midwest, an ITC subsidiary. ITC has been working with many of the Upper Midwest wind developers over the last year in assembling a realistic accounting of their wind development plans and sites, which resulted in the design of the Green Power Express. As ITC continues to work with wind developers and other local utilities in the region to identify their project needs, there may be additional lines and stations identified that would effectively accumulate the available wind generation within the region.