COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Transource Energy, a
partnership between American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP)
and Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP), today announced plans to
develop the Independence Energy Connection (IEC), a new overhead
electric transmission project in Pennsylvania and Maryland, to increase consumer access to more
affordable power in the region.
PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization
responsible for managing the high-voltage electricity grid for 13
states, including Maryland and
Pennsylvania, identified concerns
with the delivery of electricity to the region and reviewed
solutions proposed by competitive transmission companies. PJM
selected Transource's solution to address the market-efficiency
issues and awarded construction of the project to the company in
August 2016.
Totaling $320 million, the project
will connect to two existing 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines
in Pennsylvania and provide two
new additional pathways for electricity to alleviate electric
gridlock. PJM estimates that the project will save the region's
customers $600 million in electric
costs over the next 15 years.
The project's electric system upgrades include approximately 40
miles of new 230 kV overhead transmission lines, two new
substations and additional upgrades to integrate the facilities
into the grid.
- The East segment of the project includes approximately 15 miles
of new overhead electric transmission line that will connect a new
substation to be constructed in southern York County, Pa., to the existing Conastone
Substation, near Norrisville, in
Harford County, Md.
- The West segment includes approximately 25 miles of new
overhead electric transmission line that will connect a new
substation to be constructed in Franklin
County, Pa., to the existing Ringgold Substation, near
Smithsburg, in Washington County, Md.
Transource is hosting public open houses to solicit feedback on
preliminary study segments. The open houses will be set up as a
workshop so attendees can talk with Transource team members, learn
about the project, review maps and provide input. There is no
formal presentation, so attendees are welcome to come at any point
throughout the evening.
"Gathering input from people in the project area is important as
we build facilities," said Todd
Burns, Transource director. "These open house events provide
the opportunity for us to meet with residents, talk about the
project, gather feedback and be available in person to answer their
questions."
The open houses are scheduled for:
- Wednesday, June 7 from
6-9 p.m., North Harford High School,
Pylesville, Md.
- Thursday, June 8 from
6-9 p.m., Chanceford Community
Center, Brogue, Pa.
- Monday, June 12 from 6-9 p.m., Smithsburg High School, Smithsburg, Md.
- Tuesday, June 13 from
6-9 p.m., Eugene C. Clarke Jr. Community Center, Chambersburg, Pa.
- Wednesday, June 14 from
6-9 p.m., Waynesboro Area Senior High
School, Waynesboro, Pa.
- Thursday, June 15 from
6-9 p.m., Kauffman Ruritan Club and
Community Center, Chambersburg,
Pa.
Based on the input from the initial open house events,
Transource will narrow the list of potential study segments and
host a second set of open house events before identifying proposed
routes for the new transmission lines. The company plans to file
applications to construct the project with state regulators by the
end of the year.
IEC is expected to be completed in mid-2020. Additional
information can be found on the project website at
www.TransourceEnergy.com/Projects/Independence.
About Transource®
Transource® is a partnership between
American Electric Power (AEP) and Great Plains Energy (GPE) focused
on the development of, and investment in, competitive electric
transmission projects across the United
States. In all, AEP and GPE own and operate nearly 45,000
miles of transmission lines and have more than 100 years of
expertise in the planning, design, engineering, construction and
operation of transmission systems. AEP owns 86.5 percent of
Transource. GPE owns 13.5. Transource is a member of three regional
transmission organizations — PJM Interconnection, the Midwest
Independent System Operator (MISO) and the Southwest Power Pool
(SPP) — which together serve all or part of 28 U.S. states, the
District of Columbia and the
province of Manitoba in
Canada. Headquartered in
Columbus, Ohio, Transource also
has offices in Kansas City,
Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma;
and Dallas, Texas.
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SOURCE Transource Energy