A map of the Wolf Creek-Blackberry transmission line route reaching from Kansas to Missouri.

Project Overview


In October 2021, NEET Southwest was awarded to construct a new approximately 94 circuit miles of 345 kV transmission facilities from the Wolf Creek substation in Coffey County, Kansas to the Blackberry substation in Jasper County, Missouri. NEET Southwest finances, develops, constructs, owns, operates and maintains the Wolf Creek-Blackberry 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission project. The project requires regulatory approval in both Kansas and Missouri. Assuming timely regulatory approvals, the project is expected to be in-service in January 2025 and NEET Southwest will become a transmission-owning member in SPP.

The project is part of the 2019 Integrated Transmission Plan approved by SPP in October 2019 to address the need for a more reliable and cost-effective grid. This project will reduce congestion and provide market efficiencies and benefits to ratepayers.


Regulatory Filing

Project Benefits

Economic Development And Investment

  • Greater access to more affordable power in the region

  • Expected to provide approximately $23.7 million in congestion savings in its first year and additional $377 million over the next 40 years

  • Additional investment in the local economy during construction and the life of the project

  • Ongoing collaboration and support of local businesses, contractors and community members

 

Minimal Environmental And Visual Impact 

  • Project is designed to provide most value to customers with safe, reliable and cost-effective components and materials

  • Project will utilize monopole structures to minimize tree clearing and agricultural impacts

 
 

Project Timeline

In the fourth quarter of year 2022, regulatory phase is expected to be completed. In the third quarter of year 2023, right-of-way acquisition and environmental phase is expected to be completed. In the fourth quarter of year 2024, construction and commissioning phase expected to be completed. In the first quarter of year 2025 on January 1st , the project will is expected to be in-service. January 1, 2026 is the SPP-required in-service date.

Project Design

NEET Southwest’s design provides the most value to customers with safe, reliable and cost-effective components and materials.

A sketch of a transmission line pole on the left and an image of a constructed transmission line pole on the right.