The Illinois Commerce Commission has given approval to Clean Line Energy to construct and operate the Illinois portion of the 780-mile DC Grain Belt Express Clean Line.
The power line will deliver 4GW of wind energy to Illinois, Missouri and neighbouring states.
The project will bring approximately $700m of private investment to the state of Illinois, create about 1500 jobs and support Illinois manufacturing.
Illinois joins Kansas and Indiana in providing the regulatory approvals for the transmission line. Clean Line will now focus on advancing the project in Missouri, the final state where it needs approval.
Clean Line Energy president Michael Skelly said: “The ICC approval brings the Grain Belt Express Clean Line one step closer to dramatically increasing the low-cost wind energy available to customers in Missouri and Illinois.
“We appreciate the ICC’s careful review of our application and are encouraged by Illinois’ recognition of the public benefits brought forth by this critical infrastructure project.”
Image: Pixabay
