Massive Wind Power Project Could Reach Indiana

Public meetings are planned for Thursday at the Sullivan County Fairgrounds.

The company's plan calls for a roughly $6 million investment in Sullivan County, including construction jobs.

The project still needs state regulatory approval.

August 27, 2012

News Release

(HOUSTON, TX) Clean Line Energy is conducting public meetings in Sullivan, Indiana to inform the surrounding community about the Grain Belt Express Clean Line and to identify local businesses that could help construct the project. Clean Line Energy is committed to using local labor, local contractors, and local service providers during the construction of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line. Businesses that should attend include those that provide the following or similar services: transmission construction, geotechnical engineering, surveying, clearing, utility potholing, trucking, and fueling.

Clean Line Energy considers public involvement a crucial component of the project development process and is looking to inform and update local community members about the transmission line project. Clean Line Energy President, Michael Skelly, said; “We are working closely with local governmental officials, county staff, federal agencies, conservation and other interest groups across the project area.” He continued, “Over 200 companies in Indiana are involved in the wind energy and electric transmission supply chain, but in order for these industries to continue to grow, the clean energy must have a way to get to market.”

The Grain Belt Express Clean Line is a 700-mile overhead, high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that will deliver 3,500 megawatts of low-cost wind power from Kansas to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and states farther east. Similar to the trains that carry grain harvested in the Midwest to markets, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line will move renewable energy from the Grain Belt of the country to markets with a strong demand for low-cost, clean power. Indiana is known as the “Crossroads of America” because several highways intersect in the state. Similarly, electric utilities in Indiana have built several extra high voltage transmission lines, making Indiana an attractive hub for abundant, affordable, renewable energy.

“Indiana’s electric power demand will increase by 20% in the foreseeable future, while federal regulations continue to put pressure on our existing power plants,” said Vince Griffin, Vice President, Environmental & Energy Policy, and Indiana Chamber of Commerce. “The Grain Belt Express Clean Line will help Hoosiers diversify our energy resources and sustain our economy by efficiently delivering competitively priced, renewable energy from the windy Great Plains to the Crossroads of America.”

The Grain Belt Express Clean Line will provide Indiana with a new, low-cost, and renewable energy source. Increasing the supply of low-cost electricity in the state will put downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices and likely result in consumer benefits. The affordable, renewable energy delivered by the Grain Belt Express Clean Line will diversify Indiana’s energy supply and help protect utility customers from volatile fuel prices. Construction of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line and resulting wind farms is likely to support manufacturing jobs in Indiana.

What:
Grain Belt Express Clean Line Public Meetings

Who:
Clean Line Energy

When:
Thursday, August 30, 2012
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Where: Sullivan County 4-H Fairgrounds
1301 E County Road 75 N
Sullivan, Indiana 47882

To RSVP, please call 1-855-358-4340 or email rsvp@grainbeltexpresscleanline.com.

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About Clean Line Energy Partners:

Clean Line’s mission is to connect abundant, renewable energy resources to areas that have a high demand for clean, reliable energy. Clean Line is developing a series of high voltage direct current transmission projects to move renewable energy to market. For more information please visit www.CleanLineEnergy.com. For more information on the Grain Belt Express Clean Line project, please visit www.GrainBeltExpressCleanLine.com.

Source: Clean Line Energy Partners