KCC
TOPEKA – The Kansas Corporation Commission has approved a modified route for one of two 345 kV transmission lines, known as the AC Collector System, designed to connect wind and solar farms to the Grain Belt Express.
The Meade-Dodge City Line was originally planned to run 46 miles through parts of Ford, Meade, and Gray Counties.
The new route reduces the length of the line by 12 miles and avoids 24 parcels of land resulting in fewer landowners being impacted.
The 16-mile Bucklin-Dodge City Line remains unchanged.
An alternate Meade-Dodge City route, referred to as Boyd Alternative 2, was proposed by landowners prior to the Commission’s original siting order. On September 26, 2024, the Commission approved the original AC Collector route with conditions. One condition required Grain Belt to complete a routing analysis comparing the original route to the proposed Boyd Alternative 2.
In a filing to the Commission on March 14, 2025, Grain Belt proposed a third siting option resulting in a shorter line impacting fewer landowners. The new route involves shifting the location of the switchyard that serves as the origination point of the line. No additional landowners were affected by the siting change, which eliminates the need to have additional public hearings. The Commission previously held a public hearing and open house for landowners on July 10, 2024.
In addition, the following conditions contained in the Commission’s previous siting order still apply:
- The Commission will allow the company to micro-site the proposed route in order to minimize impact to landowners and to address engineering and environmental constraints. Micro-siting is limited to modifications within 660 feet of the approved-routing centerline.
- Grain Belt will not install transmission facilities on easement property until it has executed an interconnect agreement with one or more generators in the vicinity of the relevant AC Collector Line origination points.
- If Grain Belt does not execute an interconnection agreement with a generator(s) within five years, any involuntary easements obtained by eminent domain will be returned to landowners within 60 days without requirement of reimbursement payment by the landowner.
The AC Collector System was approved by the Commission in 2011 as part of the Grain Belt Express project. The route of the Grain Belt Express line was approved in 2013. An application requesting approval to determine the route of the AC Collector System was filed on May 31, 2024.
The recent order and a map showing the new route of the Meade-Dodge City line can be viewed here.