SOO Green, a jointly owned transmission project being developed by energyRe and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, received approval on its final municipal franchise agreement, giving the project an “all-clear” path to development.

The project connects two major electricity markets, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and the PJM Interconnection, (pictured in the map at right) to improve the transfer of renewable energy between the Midwest and Eastern U.S. markets.

The project recently received approval from the town of Bellevue, Iowa, meaning all 24 municipalities in Iowa that the project would run through have approved the agreement.  The project could begin construction in 2027, and commercial operation is targeted for 2031, according to a news release.

The 350-mile underground transmission line would connect Mason City to Yorkville, Ill., using existing railroad corridors to avoid the environmental and land use conflicts typically associated with overhead lines.

“SOO Green represents a bold new model for building the energy grid of the future,” David Pacyna, CEO of SOO Green, said in the news release. “By going underground along existing rail infrastructure, we’re dramatically reducing disruption to communities and landscapes while creating a vital energy superhighway that strengthens grid reliability and resiliency, optimizes transmission efficiency, and lowers long-term energy costs.”

SOO Green is a 2,100-megawatt High Voltage Direct Current transmission line that would power the equivalent of 1.5 million homes. The project is expected to bring $3.2 billion into the regional economy during construction, support thousands of union jobs and improve grid reliability and resilience, according to the release.

In Iowa, the project will create more than 5,000 jobs during the construction phase and will bring the state additional economic output of close to $1 billion.  

With the route secured, SOO Green is advocating for a more coordinated transmission investment process in Illinois that will lead to greater reliability for rate payers and lower costs. The project could begin construction in 2027 and commercial operation is targeted for 2031.

“With this final municipal franchise secured, we’re showing that the communities where this project will be sited fully support the effort,” Pacyna said.

SOO Green is being developed in partnership with energy and infrastructure firms including energyRe, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Siemens Energy, Jingoli Power, Prysmian Group and PPL Corp.