News Release
For more information contact: Abbie Hodgson, 785-271-3269
July 24, 2009
KCC Approves Phase II Agreement between ITC and Prairie Wind
Topeka, KS-After a hearing today, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approved a Stipulation and Agreement reached between ITC Great Plains and Prairie Wind Transmission, pending the preparation of an appropriate order.
Under the terms of the Stipulation and Agreement, ITC and Prairie Wind will each be responsible for building a portion of a proposed 765 kV extra high voltage transmission line in South Central Kansas.
Prairie Wind will be responsible for designing, constructing, owning, and operating an extra high voltage transmission line between Wichita and Medicine Lodge and south to the Oklahoma border. Prairie Wind will also build two new substations, one near Wichita and one near Medicine Lodge.
ITC will be responsible for designing, constructing, owning, and operating an extra high voltage transmission line between Medicine Lodge, Comanche County, and Spearville. ITC will also build new substations in Medicine Lodge, Comanche County, and Spearville.
The Stipulation and Agreement was supported by the Southwest Power Pool, and agreed to by ITC Great Plains, Prairie Wind, KCC staff, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, Mid-Kansas Electric Company, Chermac Energy Corporation, Kansas Electric Transmission Authority, and the Kansas Power Pool.
Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L) did not sign the agreement, but indicated that they did not oppose the agreement. The Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board CURB) opposed the agreement.
Today's ruling does not guarantee the project will be built, but is a step in the process of authorizing ITC and Prairie Wind to construct the transmission lines. The project will now be subject to regional cost allocation and cost/benefit analysis by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) in order to determine whether a notice to construct will be issued by the SPP, and future siting consideration by the KCC.
To read the complete stipulation and agreement visit: http://kcc.ks.gov/scan/200906/20090601151302.pdf