Rock Island Clean Line has been granted a certificate of public convenience to build and operate the Illinois portion of the 500-mile power line.
The power line will run from the greater northwest Iowa area to communities in Illinois and in other states to the east. It will deliver 3,500MW of low-cost wind energy.
Clean Line Energy president Michael Skelly said: "The ICC approval is a great step forward for the Rock Island Clean Line project and brings Illinois one step closer to creating a cleaner energy future.
"By approving game-changing projects like the Rock Island Clean Line, Illinois will benefit from access to low-cost clean energy and job creation in the construction and manufacturing sectors."
Capable of powering over 1.4 million homes, the Rock Island Clean Line project will encourage the manufacture of transmission and wind turbine parts.
Clean Line Energy had earlier signed an MOU with Southwire for the purchase of conductor wire for the project, which will cut the annual cost of wholesale electricity used to serve Illinois customers by $320m in its initial year of operation.
Image: The Rock Island Clean Line project will deliver 3,500MW of low-cost wind energy in Illinois. Photo: courtesy of a454/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
