Ameren is trying to find a path for 10 to 15 new miles of transmission wire from Alta to Peoria. It’s called the Peoria County Reliability Project.
The proposed 138 kV line runs from an existing Alta substation in Peoria County to another existing substation on Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. Manager of Stakeholder Relations Leah Dettmer says that Peoria County communities are currently supported by two lines that make up the backbone of the system. Adding this third line would give Ameren more potential options during weather issues or a power outage.
“So if you think of the energy system, specifically our transmission system, as an interstate highway that has energy on it, we provide an additional loop of energy here,” Dettmer said. “So that, if one of those roads close due to weather or an outage of some sort, there's another loop that feeds the community of energy.”
The project is currently in the planning and development stage. Dettmer says that, after rounds of public feedback and input, Ameren will submit a proposed route to the Illinois Commerce Commission in early 2023, begin construction shortly after and have the line finished by late 2025.
Ameren is in the second round of community feedback for the project. There are meetings Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to Noon at Barrack’s Cater Inn on Pioneer Parkway.
“It's a technical process,” said Dettmer. “And we want people in the public to know that when they come in, we can explain the project to them, and really answer the questions about the project and the benefits that it's bringing to the Peoria region and community.”
Dettmer says another potential benefit of the project is future economic growth in Northwest Peoria.
“It's a way to bolster the community with extra energy support,” she said. “This is an area, the study area where we're looking at, is an important area because it's zoned commercial and industrial.”
If you can’t make it to either of the in-person feedback meetings, you can also submit feedback on the project here.
