Ameren Illinois logo (PRNewsFoto/Ameren Illinois)
Ameren Illinois has begun construction of the McLean County Reliability Project, a 10-mile, 138kV transmission line to bolster energy reliability for the McLean County region. The new line will connect the existing McLean County Substation and the Normal East Substation which is currently being upgrade as part of the project.
Ameren Illinois will start line construction this week near the McLean County Substation in White Oak Township, working east and then south towards the Normal East Substation located near Normal. The existing substations transform high-voltage electricity from the transmission system to lower-voltage electricity, which it supplies to homes and businesses through distribution lines
“After two years of listening to and collaborating with local communities, we’re excited to begin construction on the McLean County Reliability Project,” said Ameren Illinois Project Manager Greg Eddings. “When it’s complete, the project will improve local energy reliability and support continued growth for the McLean County area.”
“With any construction project, our goal is to complete the work as safely and as quickly as possible,” said Kyle Frick, Ameren Illinois construction supervisor. “As construction moves forward, we’ll continue to work closely with landowners and community members to ensure this process flows smoothly.”
The route will run through McLean County, Illinois. Nearly 100 percent of the transmission line will be located on agricultural land and running parallel to existing roadways where possible.
In October 2018, the Illinois Commerce Commission granted Ameren Illinois a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) for the project, which will complete a critical link in the region’s energy infrastructure.
With an anticipated in-service date of December 2020, Ameren Illinois expects to invest $30million in the McLean County Reliability Project
