JACKSONVILLE, ILL. -- A new line of energy could be on its way to the Midwest.
Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois is seeking to build a 330-mile high voltage transmission wire across Illinois. The Illinois Rivers Project will be the first of its Grand Rivers projects to bring more reliability to power lines and incorporate renewable energy sources.
The line will help Ameren Corporation reach its requirement of providing 25-percent renewable energy by 2025, by bringing in wind-generated energy that can be transmitted from state to state.
Monday in Jacksonville, a community group heard details of the line that will stretch from Marion County, Missouri to Vigo and Sullivan Counties in Indiana. By law, it is required that Ameren host public forums in each of the affected counties. This meeting allowed people who live near the potential line sites to ask questions and voice their concerns.
"We have to be very careful of a lot of things. We have to be conscious of wetlands. We have to be conscious of archaeological sites. We have to be conscious of endangered species. We have to be conscious of landowners and what they would like to see." said Peggy Ladd, Ameren's manager for transmission business development.
Ladd says she owns farmland herself, and would hate to have her land cut in two. Ameren will introduce proposed routes along with several alternative routes. Ultimately, though Ameren believes the line will be minimally invasive, private property could conflict with the company's plans.
The project will use resources from the areas the line will cross. Ladd says Ameren will use local contractors and supplies for the actual building and will hire additional project managers to oversee operations.
"There are a lot of construction jobs that come out of this project. We estimate about a billion dollars plus or minus 200 million," Ladd said.
Ameren estimates that for every dollar spent on additional transmission costs through the three-state power line, there will be a $1.80 to $2.80 of savings. At the end of this project in 2019, the total cost to each Ameren customer would be about 50 cents per month, but the savings of the new system would be 2 to 3 times that amount.
The project has been approved by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) and Ameren wants to file a petition for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity by November 2012. The earliest construction will begin is 2015, and the earliest lines will be usable is 2016.
Quincy residents are welcome to come to the May 23 public open house from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Quincy City Center Hotel.
Here is a full list of Open Houses in the Tri-State area:
May 14, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Hamilton’s Catering Service, Inc.
101 Main Street
Franklin, IL 62638
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
American Legion
136 E State St
Waverly, IL 62692
May 17, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Elks Club
205 East Second Street
Beardstown, IL 62618
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Meredosia-Chambersburg High School
830 Main Street
Meredosia, IL 62665
May 18, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
American Legion
E Oakes St
Bluffs, IL 62621
May 21, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
YMCA
Route 99 South
Mt. Sterling, IL 62353
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
American Legion
706 W Lincoln
Griggsville, IL 62340
May 22, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
American Legion
270 E Main St
Ipava, IL 61441
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Schuyler Industry Middle School
750 North Congress Street
Rushville, IL 62681
May 23, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Quincy City Center Hotel
201 South Third Street
Quincy, IL 62301
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Community Building
205 East First
Bath, IL 62617
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