SPP last week issued its first competitive transmission solicitation, inviting developers to bid on construction of a 21-mile 115-kV line between North Liberal and Walkemeyer in southwestern Kansas.

The SPP Board of Directors approved staff’s recommendation that it authorize construction of the project on April 28.

The board originally approved the project in January but asked staff to evaluate an alternative proposed by Sunflower Electric Power that would have delayed the line by relying on operating guides for Sunflower’s 76-MW Cimarron River Station to provide relief from thermal or voltage violations. (See Walkemeyer Transmission Projects Wins SPP OK.)

The request for proposals (SPP-RFP-00001) was sent May 5 to transmission developers that had cleared the RTO’s qualification process.

It is SPP’s first competitive solicitation under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 1000, which removed federal rights of first refusal for incumbent transmission owners. An “industry expert panel” will review, rank and score proposals received.