Grain Belt Express awards $1.7 B in contracts
A transmission line across four US states moves forward as Grain Belt Express secures major contractors and advances land acquisition in Kansas.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Kansas, Topeka: The Grain Belt Express, a 1,300 km (800 mi) transmission line crossing Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, has awarded $1.7 B in contracts to Quanta Services (Houston) and Kiewit Energy Group (Omaha), advancing one of the largest renewable energy infrastructure projects in the US.
The project, led by Invenergy, is expected to deliver 5,000 MW of power and generate an estimated $52 B in energy cost savings over 15 years. The main offices for engineering, construction, and procurement in Phase 1 will operate outside of Overland Park and Lenexa, Kansas.
Contractors plan to source materials locally, including concrete, piping, and aggregates from Kansas and Missouri suppliers. Local lawmakers have praised the project’s economic impact. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson called it a “multimillion-dollar investment with strong local benefits.”
In April, the Kansas Corporation Commission approved a revised route for one segment of the line, shortening it by 19 km (12 mi) and reducing the number of affected landowners.
Invenergy reports that 95 % of land acquisition for Phase 1 is complete, with 1,500 easement agreements signed and $19 M already paid to landowners. An additional $86 M is committed at the start of construction.
Source: Kansas Reflector
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