Video: Westar breaks ground on major transmission project
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Westar Energy breaks ground on a major high-capacity transmission line project Video by kfdi.com
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Westar Energy and Prairie Wind Transmission broke ground Wednesday on a 108-mile high capacity transmission line that will run from Colwich to the Oklahoma border.
"We like to think of it as an electric transmission super-highway," said Kelly Harrison, president of Prairie Wind and vice president of Westar. "The capability will be about 4,000 megawatts. To put that into perspective, that's about the load of three Wichitas."
The line will be the highest capacity line in the state. It will be able to bridge the eastern and western halves of the state, carrying wind energy to the east and lower cost coal, gas and nuclear energy out west.
Westar officials said the line will increase the reliability of the transmission system and the capacity to move power in the area.
The line, which took four years to design, plan and negotiate, is expected to be energized in December 2014.
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