wiredInUSA October 2017

Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, has selected a final route for the Mark Twain Transmission Project, a 345,000 volt transmission line and substation to be built in northeast Missouri. The approximately 100-mile route, which will be nearly 100 percent co-located on existing right of way, has received assents from the commissions of the five counties in which the line will be located. Specifically, the route will co-locate on existing right of way on Northeast Missouri Electric Power Cooperative’s (Northeast Power) 161,000 volt line between Palmyra and Kirksville, and Ameren Missouri’s 161,000 volt line from Kirksville to the Iowa border. Approximately 59 miles of Northeast Power’s 161,000 volt transmission line will be completely rebuilt, replacing the current wooden H-frame facilities with new steel, mainly monopole, structures. ATXI will pay for the poles, insulators and hardware. “Due to the age of Northeast Power’s current 161,000 volt line, it would need to be replaced within 10 to 15 years at a cost of approximately $30 million,” said Douglas Aeilts, CEO and general manager, Northeast Power. “WorkingwithATXI on this co-location project allows Northeast Power to save a significant amount of money while enhancing the reliability of our transmission system.” ATXI expects to invest approximately $250 million in the project, which is scheduled to be operational in December 2019.

Missouri transmission upgrade

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wiredInUSA - October 2017