A Michigan-based electricity transmission company has its sights set on harnessing North Dakota wind energy to supply renewable power to millions of homes in the Midwest–and is one step closer to achieving its goal after a federal ruling in its favor. In April, ITC Holdings Corporation received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a request for rate incentives to help get its “Green Power Express” project off the ground.

According to the company, the Green Power Express will harvest wind energy from seven states- -North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana–and deliver it over a 3,000 mile high-voltage line to metropolitan areas. ITC estimates the project will cost between $10 and $12 billion dollars.

“This is an exciting step in the process of connecting clean, renewable energy sources from wind-rich areas to urban locations where it is needed,” Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and CEO of ITC, said. “We are pleased that FERC recognizes the importance of investing in the nation’s high voltage transmission grid as a mechanism to support renewables and we look forward to working with the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (Midwest ISO) and all federal and state stakeholders on the development of this project.”

North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer says commissioners have been approached by ITC about the project and the PSC has subsequently filed an intervention with FERC to stay up to speed on its developments. Cramer says ITC’s project is one of several transmission projects involving the state that is currently at some stage of the regulatory process.

“This is a huge project,” Cramer said. “It’s a big line, it’s a big investment and its starting point is really North Dakota.”

The Green Power Express would require construction of thousands of miles of 765kb transmission lines, which is used to transmit extremely high voltage power. Cramer says integrating additional transmission lines is a step in the right direction for capitalizing on North Dakota’s enormous renewable energy potential.

“In order for us to begin to realize the potential of wind energy development and/or more coal electricity generation development, there has to be more transmission developed as well because there’s no way of getting significant increases electricity out of the state and into the marketplace [without it],” Cramer said. “This is the railroad for electricity and we need to build more to get it out.”

Cramer says the ITC project is in the very early stages of consideration, and there are many details to work through in the months and years to come, including how landowners, environment and local utility cooperatives would be impacted by such a project.

Though it will be years before transmission construction from any party is underway, Cramer says the future for North Dakota’s energy landscape looks bright. “I’m very enthused about the interest that companies like ITC have in investing in North Dakota,” he said. “It’s illustrative of the incredible resource we have in the state. North Dakota has what America needs and wants– our only challenge is to get it out there.”
Story by CAROLYN MOORE