MISO Approves New Tranche of Electrical Transmission Lines in Michigan

Massive electrical transmission line projects have received a preliminary approval by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which operates the electric transmission system or “grid” in portions of 15 states in the Midwest and the South, plus the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was developed and is overseen by FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which provides more information.

MISO previously approved what it termed the Tranche 1 set of projects. These include Michigan Electric Transmission Company (“METC”) projects called the Helix Substation to Hipple Substation and Oneida Substation to Nelson Road Substation. For more information about these project, please see this post containing FAQS about the project and describing serious flaws with METC’s initial right of way acquisition process.

The Tranche 2 projects are even more extensive. The excerpt from the map shown above identifies the projects contemplated in Michigan.

This includes unprecedented in Michigan 765 KV line running north of the Indiana boder, and extension of the Oneida to Nelson Road 345 KV project to north with an east/west line running from Tittabawassee to Ludington, and another new 345 KV line running east from Oneida to Blackfoot.

The MISO approval paves the way for METC to seek regulatory approval in front of the Michigan Public Service Commission. As such, right of way acquisition are not imminent. The MISO approval contemplates that the systems be operable starting in 2032. However, it demonstrates that huge transmission lines crossing agricultural areas and forests are an ongoing trend.