wiredInUSA September 2020

Underground connection

The SOO Green HVDC Link is a 2,100MW, 525KV underground high voltage direct current transmission line, stretching 350 miles between Iowa and Illinois. The developer of the project, which is financially supported by Jingoli Power, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Siemens Energy, with a strategic partnership with Canadian Pacific, has launched an open solicitation process to allocate transmission capacity rights on the project to co-locate electric transmission lines underground within an existing railroad corridor.

The HVDC line will link energy markets in Iowa and Illinois, relieve midwestern transmission constraints, and provide energy buyers with direct access to a diverse portfolio of midwestern generation. According to the project owner, Direct Connect, following an existing railroad corridor greatly reduces environmental, visibility and landowner impact. The $2.5 billion interregional backbone transmission project will become operational in late 2024.

wiredInUSA September 2020

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