Regulators in Missouri have unanimously approved a transmission project that would deliver 4GW of renewable energy from western Kansas to a number of US states, according to the American Wind Energy Association.
AWEA said the approval by the Missouri Public Service Commission creates “strong momentum for the Grain Belt Express, but additional commercial and regulatory steps remain before construction can begin”.
The project has also been approved by Kansas and Indiana, but consent is still required in Illinois.
Approval of the acquisition of the project in Kansas and Missouri by Chicago-based Invenergy is also needed, AWEA said.
AWEA senior vice president of government and public affairs Amy Farrell said: “Missouri’s Public Service Commission just handed consumers a big win by approving the Grain Belt Express project.
“Upgraded and new transmission lines open up America’s low-cost clean energy resources for consumers and make our grid even more resilient.”