The context: In recent years, MISO has been laying the groundwork for the country’s biggest regional grid upgrade yet—a 3.6K-mile, 765-kV transmission backbone that’s slated to go online from 2032-2034. Why? To 1) integrate growing renewable capacity and 2) maintain reliability as more conventional plants retire.
The latest: To build a piece of that backbone, MISO recently tapped Ameren and NextEra subsidiaries, along with the Dairyland Power Cooperative. This $1.2B project in Iowa includes a 187-mile, 765-kV line and a new substation. MISO also picked this trio to build two other projects within its major transmission buildout.
The pushback: State utility regulators have questioned the grid operator’s math on these projects’ financial benefits, and last year urged FERC to prevent cost-sharing among MISO states. But FERC hasn’t responded to this complaint.
Sat, Oct 24
Molly Glick
Energy Central Team
NEWS: MISO is going full throttle on a $22B transmission superhighway planned to link the Midwest.
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