ATXI Chosen to Develop Grid Reliability Project in Northern Missouri
Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Ameren Corp., has been selected by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional transmission operator for large parts of the central U.S., to develop a $273 million transmission project across northern Missouri.
“We are proud to have won this vital project that will give Missourians a more resilient energy grid and boost reliability for millions of people,” Shawn Schukar, chairman and president of ATXI, said in a statement issued on April 3. “We plan to continue our track record of delivering cost-effective, high-value projects while incorporating robust input from our neighbors and doing everything we can to be respectful to impacted landowners.”
The project will originate from a new 345-kV substation that ATXI will construct in northwest Missouri and span from DeKalb County to Marion County, opening new pathways for energy transmission to the region. The project is part of a $10 billion portfolio of projects included in Tranche 1 of MISO’s Long-Range Transmission Plan (LRTP).
“Ameren has been doing business in our state for more than 100 years, and having this project led by a Missouri-based utility with strong, longstanding local partners will ensure the job is done cost-effectively and collaboratively,” Schukar said. “When Missouri companies build these large infrastructure projects, more dollars invested stay in our state, maintaining local jobs and boosting local suppliers and our communities.”
ATXI is currently working on additional projects from MISO’s Tranche 1 portfolio. The Northern Missouri Grid Transformation Program includes two projects expected to be in-service in 2028. MISO selected ATXI to develop one of these projects in October 2023, noting the sound route design and cost containment plan as key factors.
Ameren Corp. supplies power for about 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission, and distribution service, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops, owns and operates rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects.
—POWER edited this content, which was contributed by Ameren communications.