TERRE HAUTE —
By mid-September, Ameren Transmission Co. plans to reveal a proposed route, along with at least one alternative route, for a high-voltage electricity transmission line that will span 330 miles and connect near Terre Haute.
Ameren, a Missouri-based power company, concluded public open houses Tuesday on the project known as the Illinois Rivers transmission line, a 345,000-volt line that would run from Palmyra, Mo., to just west of Terre Haute. Open houses were held last week in Edgar and Clark counties in Illinois.
Ameren will conduct more open houses in September, before filing for the transmission line in November with the Illinois Commerce Commission, which is expected to issue a final order no later than July 2013, said Ameren Transmission spokesman Leigh Morris.
The project is estimated to cost $890 million to $1.4 billion, Morris said.
If approved, construction of the transmission line through Illinois to Indiana is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The project is part of MISO, a regional planning organization for the power grid in the Midwest.
The entire transmission line to the East Coast is slated to be finished and operational in late 2019, Morris said.
The line could tie into Indiana west of Terre Haute at the Sugar Creek Substation, jointly owned by Duke Energy and Northern Indiana Public Service Co., said Duke Energy spokeswoman Angeline Protogere.
“The section of this [Ameren] project in Indiana is only one mile,” Protogere said. After that, Duke Energy would construct a transmission line across Indiana, she said.
“Until we know exactly where it will cross the border between Illinois and Indiana, our line planning won’t begin,” Protogere said.
MISO members would share the cost to establish the transmission line, Protogere said.
In addition to approval from Illinois regulators, Ameren “is still a long way from construction. We have 330 miles of easements to secure. There will probably be something in the vicinity of 1,500 landowners, and we will have to negotiate with all of them to secure a right-of-way that is 150 feet wide,” Morris said.
The easements would exclude any construction or planting of trees, he added.
“It is a big project … and the largest single transmission project ever in the state of Illinois,” where the majority of the transmission line will traverse west to east, Morris said.
The high-voltage transmission line would be supported by single-shaft steel poles, ranging from 80 to 140 feet tall, with spans between the poles expected to be 700 to 1,000 feet, Morris said.
The need for the transmission line is a result of a study from MISO, Morris said, which determined the need for the transmission of 41 million megawatt hours of power from wind turbines in the Dakotas, Iowa and Minnesota through Illinois and Indiana. To put that into prospective, the electrical output is equal to 10 standard electric power-generating plants, Morris added.
“A typical wind turbine produces 1.5 to 2 megawatts, sometimes 2.5 megawatts of power. It takes a lot of wind turbines to come up with that much electricity,” Morris said.
Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached
at (812) 231-4204 or howard.greninger @tribstar.com.
News
Electric transmission line being built to Terre Haute
- News
-
-
Co-Op to Feed group delivering to needy
Three Terre Haute organizations are teaming up to deliver food boxes to “the neediest of needy” with specific health concerns on a monthly basis.
-
Field trips to take big hit next year
The Vigo County School Corp. plans to inform school staff of “deep cuts” in student field trips for the next school year, Superintendent Dan Tanoos said Friday.
-
Donation drive in Valley aims to send help to Oklahoma tornado victims
Terre Haute Ministries, along with WTWO, WAWV, Q102.7 and 100.7 Mix-FM are joining forces to help those impacted by tornadoes in Moore, Okla.
-
Invention makes houses safer from tornadoes
A Terre Haute man has developed a building construction system that increases the strength of a home, especially from a tornado.
-
ISU to stage public hearing on proposed tuition increase
Indiana State University will conduct a public hearing at 2 p.m. June 4 to receive input on a proposed 1.95 percent increase in student tuition and mandatory fees for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years.
-
Trial date set for man accused of attacking Vigo County deputy
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County Sheriff’s Deputy has an Aug. 12 trial date.
-
Technology speeds disaster alerts, response
Caitria O’Neill remembers her reaction to hearing tornado warnings on June 1, 2011. She went to the grocery store, she said, “because I live in Massachusetts, and we don’t get tornadoes.”
-
Health information to be provided for blood donors
People who give blood at Clinton Gardens’ blood drive Tuesday will leave knowing valuable information about their health. Donors will find out their cholesterol level, blood pressure, blood type and iron levels at no cost.
-
‘This is the best day of my life’
-
Sullivan man airlifted to Indy after crash
A Sullivan man was in critical condition at an Indianapolis hospital Friday after his pickup truck collided with a tanker truck in Sullivan County.
-
Veterans Memorial Park dedication set for Monday
Memorial Day ceremonies will include a special event this year.
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
- More News Headlines
-
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
Today in History May 25
High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
ShowBiz Minute: Shelton, King, Lopez
Today in History May 24
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Massive Flooding in San Antonio Area; Rescue Efforts Underway
Hope For The Boy Who Can't Smile
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube
Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head
Maine island offers lighthouse getaway
Should We Prepare for Quakes?
Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings
Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes
Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky
Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino
Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents
BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs
Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos
Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York
Singer Psy Has An Imposter
