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Company Announcements

Grain Belt Express Launches Open Solicitation Process to Offer HVDC Transmission Line Capacity Delivering to MISO/AECI

March 12, 2024

Grain Belt Express LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Invenergy Transmission LLC, today announced the launch of an Open Solicitation process to allocate up to 800 megawatts (MW) of transmission capacity on Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express HVDC transmission line. The Brattle Group will oversee the process as the Independent Solicitation Manager.

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Invenergy’s Grain Belt Express Transmission Line Secures Last of its State Approvals

October 12, 2023

Today, the $7 billion, 800-mile Grain Belt Express electric transmission infrastructure project secured approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) for its request to amend its existing Certificate of Convenience and Necessity. The decision marks the last required state siting approval for significant enhancements to the project and provides the necessary certainty about power delivery to support ongoing and upcoming commercial contracting efforts.

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Grain Belt Express Approved by Kansas Corporation Commission

June 14, 2023

Topeka, Kansas (June 14, 2023) – The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) on Tuesday granted a request to amend the existing regulatory approvals for the Grain Belt Express transmission project.

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Invenergy Transmission and Prysmian Announce Long-Term
Supply Agreement and Manufacturing Facility Expansion,
Bolstering America’s Electricity Transmission Supply Chain

April 26, 2023

Invenergy Transmission – an affiliate of American-led Invenergy, the leading privately-held developer, owner, and operator of sustainable energy solutions – and Prysmian Group North America – a world leader in energy and telecommunications cable systems – today announced a long-term supply agreement that includes a $22.5 million investment to expand domestic manufacturing capacity of advanced transmission conductor technology.

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Grain Belt Express Files to Bring Economic Benefits to Kansas Sooner

March 13, 2023

Grain Belt Express, an Invenergy Transmission project, filed last week with Kansas regulators to amend its project approvals to allow Kansas to realize the economic benefits of the line more quickly.

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Grain Belt Express Approved by Illinois Commerce Commission

March 8, 2023

Today, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) granted the Grain Belt Express transmission line project a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), marking the successful conclusion of over a yearlong public input and review process. The approval will enable $4.3 billion in expected energy cost savings for Illinois energy consumers, while helping to address growing concerns about regional power grid reliability.

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Grain Belt Express selects Siemens Energy as HVDC technology partner

January 25, 2023

Grain Belt Express, an Invenergy Transmission project, has selected Siemens Energy Inc. to supply the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology for Phase 1 of the 800-mile project. Grain Belt Express will deliver 100% domestic, clean, and affordable electricity to homes and businesses across four Midwest states—Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana—and other regions. At 5,000 megawatts of capacity, it is the highest-capacity line in development in the United States, connecting grid regions that serve 40% of American households. Phase 1 of the project is proposed to include an HVDC transmission line that extends approximately 530 miles between the converter stations in Kansas and Missouri.

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Grain Belt Express Files to Bring More Power and Energy Savings to Missouri

August 25, 2022

Responding to Regional Market Demand and State Leaders’ Calls, Proposed Project Changes Would Deliver More Power and Energy Savings to Missouri, Benefitting Consumers Throughout Midwest

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Grain Belt Express Files for Final State Approval in Illinois

July 27, 2022

Updated economic impact figures, new estimates of energy cost savings, and final proposed routes are provided in Illinois Commerce Commission application

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Grain Belt Express Announces Expansion, Increases Energy Savings and Local Delivery

July 11, 2022

Responding to Regional Market Demand and State Leaders’ Calls, Project Changes Will Deliver More Power and Energy Savings to Missouri, Benefitting Consumers Throughout Midwest

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News Coverage

MPUA continues to endorse Grain Belt Project

March 13, 2023

Missouri’s hometown electric utilities have reaffirmed their support of the Grain Belt Express transmission project (Grain Belt). A resolution affirming continued support of the project was passed March 9 by the MPUA Board of Directors that represents 120 hometown utility members.

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DOE eyeing loan guarantee for revitalized Grain Belt Express power line

December 20, 2022

The Energy Department is considering granting a loan guarantee to the recently revived Grain Belt Express Transmission line project, The Energy Daily has learned. If granted to underwrite the power line — which would cross four states and knit together four power markets — it would mark the first loan guarantee that the DOE has issued for a high-voltage, direct-current power line.

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Cheaper, Cleaner Energy In Kirkwood’s Future?

November 14, 2022

As winter approaches, energy consumers are getting frightening news about proposed price hikes for electric, natural gas, heating oil and more. Kirkwood Electric recently informed customers of an increase per kilowatt hour for their electricity.

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Grain Belt Express developer says new $7 billion plan will boost wind energy power

July 11, 2022

ST. LOUIS — A developer aiming to deliver wind energy across an 800-mile transmission line that’s long been stalled in Missouri announced Monday that it will expand the project’s capacity for even more power.

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What Is The Grain Belt Express?

January 14, 2022

WMAY 970 Radio – Springfield: Patrick Whitty and Mark Denzler interview on Grain Belt Express

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Resources

Maps

Tiger Connector Maps
Grain Belt Express Phase Map

Education and Information

Grain Belt Express e-Update March 17, 2023
Sample Parcel Map
Sample Landowner Letter
Grain Belt Express Newsletter

Research and Studies

Analysis Summary: Impact of Grain Belt Express on Midwest Energy Consumer Cost and Emissions
HVDC Transmission A National Security and Energy Resilience Imperative
Economic Impact Analysis of Grain Belt Express

Video

Invested in Communities
Working with Invenergy
Stewards of the Land
Lasting Relationships

Media Kit

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Regulatory and Construction Updates

Grain Belt Express is a regulated public utility in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).    

Project Phasing & Construction Timeline

Invenergy Transmission is proposing to construct Grain Belt Express in two phases.   

Phase 1 extends between the line’s Kansas and Missouri interconnection points. Pending permitting approvals, full construction on Phase 1 is anticipated to begin as soon as the start of 2025.

Phase 2 extends between the line’s mid-point Missouri converter station and Indiana interconnection point. A schedule for Phase 2 has not yet been announced but will follow Phase 1. Grain Belt Express remains fully committed to both project phases.

Federal Approvals & Reviews

U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office Environmental Review 

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office has initiated the federal environmental review and permitting process for the proposed Grain Belt Express Phase 1 (from the line’s Kansas to Missouri interconnection points). An Environmental Impact Statement for the project will be developed and issued for the project, which includes a 75-day public scoping period that was initiated on December 16, 2022. Visit the DOE’s Environment Impact Statement website to learn more and provide input. 

 

FAST-41

Grain Belt Express Phase 1 received Title 41 of Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) designation by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, signifying its national priority importance to improving grid reliability and energy affordability, particularly in the Midwest region. Grain Belt Express was posted to the permitting dashboard February 20, 2024.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has authorized Grain Belt Express to sell transmission capacity to potential customers of the project, including utilities and other load-serving entities or clean energy generators, and to negotiate agreements for 100% of the project’s capacity. Generator interconnection to Grain Belt Express will be subject to the requirements of the project’s FERC-approved open access transmission tariff. 

State Approvals & Reviews

Kansas 

The Kansas Corporation Commission extended Grain Belt Express’s certification as a transmission-only public utility in 2019 with an approved route and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to construct the approximately 380-mile Kansas portion of the project.  

Regulatory Documents & Links:  

KCC CPCN Order >> 

KCC Siting Permit Order >>

KCC Deadline Extension Order >> 

Kansas Route Selection Study (July 2013) >>

 

A request to amend the CPCN was approved by the KCC on June 13, 2023. 

KCC Amendment >>

KCC Amendment Testimony >>

KCC Amendment Docket Details >>

KCC CPCN Amendment Order>>

KCC Press Release- KCC approves construction of Grain Belt line in two phases>>

 

Missouri 

Grain Belt Express received its certificate of convenience and necessity from the Missouri Public Service Commission (MPSC) in 2019.  

As a public utility in Missouri, Grain Belt Express already has long-term transmission service agreements with the Missouri Public Energy Pool (MOPEP) and other Missouri municipal utilities that will provide clean energy and $12.8 million in annual energy savings for at least 39 municipal utilities across Missouri.  

In August 2022, Grain Belt Express filed an amendment request with the MPSC seeking approval to increase the total delivery capacity of the project, bringing five times more energy to Missouri than originally approved in 2019. The amendment request to the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, which includes identification of a final Tiger Connector route in Missouri, was approved by the MPSC on October 12, 2023. 

Regulatory Documents & Links: 

MPSC 2023 Amendment to CCN Report and Order>>

MPSC CCN >> 

MPSC Amendment Docket >> 

MPSC 2019 CCN Docket >> 

Missouri Route Selection Study (March 2014) >>

Missouri Tiger Connector Route Selection Study (August 2022) >>

 

Illinois 

Grain Belt Express received its Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in March 2023.   

Regulatory Documents & Links: 

ICC Final Order >>

Illinois Route Selection Study (July 2022)>>

 

Indiana 

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) issued Grain Belt Express a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity in 2013.  

 

Regulatory Documents & Links: 

IURC CPCN >> 

Grain Belt Express’s additional commitment to deliver more power to Missouri could not have come at a better time for businesses in our region who are facing increased risk for outages and higher energy bills due to more demand and less energy production.
Ray McCarty, Associated Industries of Missouri
You can’t have a strong business climate if manufacturers are worried about the reliability and cost of their power supply. There’s no question, manufacturers and the communities they support across our region will see significant benefits thanks to this essential investment.
Mark Denzler, President & CEO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
[Grain Belt Express] will also be capable of moving electricity both directions, which could have helped mitigate the electricity crisis that hit the United States earlier this year. ‘Lines like Grain Belt Express could have been the savior’
Kansas City Star,  April 12, 2021
Our area has been in need of transmission upgrades for some time. The Tiger Connector plan will be good for everyone in our area
Mark Petty, Kirkwood Electric Director
Modernizing our state’s infrastructure and ensuring affordability and diversity of energy supply are absolutely critical to improving Illinois’ business environment and strengthening our competitiveness. In contributing to both, the Grain Belt Express is a home run for Illinois.
Todd Maisch, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
The savings from this project would be very important for our community. Growth has been tough…we’re losing jobs. Cheap renewable energy is key to not only maintaining the businesses we have but to give us some type of hope for growth.
Jeff Bergstrom, General Manager, Marshall Municipal Utilities 
This transmission line is one of the largest economic development projects in the entire state and will help power our towns, while saving every family and business in our communities a total of more than $12.8 million annually on our electric bills.
Missouri Public Utilities Alliance
In Chariton County alone, the Grain Belt Express project will add $1.3 million in sales and property taxes during construction and $8.7 million in property taxes… It will benefit citizens and promote a brighter future for our students and the students of all the school districts that stand to benefit in counties along the route.
Joshua Shoemaker, Keytesville, MO Superintendent
The reduced costs this will provide us is vital in our ongoing efforts to provide reliable utilities.
Nici Wilson, Odessa City Administrator

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