MISO on March 4 suggested an approximately $20 billion portfolio for its second long-range transmission planning (LRTP) effort, calling for several 765-kV line segments.
The grid operator said its second LRTP draft portfolio for MISO Midwest “focuses on creating a 765-kV transmission ‘highway’ within the MISO region to maximize value based on land use, line distances, transfer levels and costs.” Together, MISO said the anticipated additions could range in cost from $17 billion to $23 billion.
Several of the suggested 765-kV lines are located near 345-kV line routes approved as part of MISO’s first, $10 billion LRTP portfolio, including routes through Iowa that have been cast into uncertainty by a recent court ruling finding the state’s right of first refusal law unconstitutional. (See MISO Asks Court for Injunction Reversal on Iowa LRTP Projects.)
The proposed 765-kV network snakes through Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Another suggested 765-kV segment cuts through Southern Michigan into Indiana. The second LRTP draft proposal also calls for several substations and more 345-kV lines in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa and Illinois.
As with its first LRTP portfolio, MISO said it sought to minimize new rights-of-way permitting with state regulators to help head off environmental concerns.
At the Gulf Coast Power Association’s MISO-SPP conference March 4, MISO CEO John Bear said the RTO hopes to finalize the second LRTP portfolio for approval by its board of directors at the end of the year.
MISO planners have long said “significant” overloads and congestion eventually will threaten the system if the RTO doesn’t recommend a second set of Midwestern transmission solutions. (See MISO Says Overloads and Congestion Loom Without 2nd Long-range Tx Portfolio.)
MISO’s new line suggestions are premised on the RTO’s estimate that it will need 369 GW of new, mostly renewable resources by 2042 based on its members’ plans. MISO said the second LRTP portfolio is the next step to “developing a system needed to reliably and efficiently meet the load growth and resource evolution described in MISO’s members’ plans.”
“This portfolio focuses on creating a regional backbone to meet the long-term needs of our region,” MISO Vice President of System Planning Aubrey Johnson said in a press release. “Our transmission solutions — creating a sort of interstate highway system for electricity — enable the future resource plans of our states, utilities and members by addressing regional needs, while recognizing that local issues will continue to be addressed through our MTEP and generator interconnection queue processes.”
“The future grid must be able to integrate new load growth and respond to extreme weather, and a robust transmission system is required to ensure this occurs reliably and efficiently,” said Laura Rauch, executive director of transmission planning at MISO. “We know further transmission development can provide value and we will continue working with our stakeholders to refine this portfolio and ensure it is sufficiently robust.”
MISO said it will continue analyzing the benefits of anticipated portfolio over the coming months and take stakeholders’ suggestions for project alternatives through April 5.
MISO will hold its next LRTP workshop with stakeholders on March 15.
