CGA Statement on SOO GREEN Renewable Rail Line Transmission Plan
ST. PAUL, MINN. (March 11, 2019) – Today, Direct Connect Development Company announced the SOO Green Renewable Rail project, a 349-mile, 2,100 megawatt, 525 KV underground high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line running from Mason City, Iowa to Plano, Illinois.
Clean Grid Alliance issued the following statement:
“The SOO Green Renewable Rail project represents an exciting new project and technology to deliver sought-after renewable energy. The project is evidence that the growth of renewables is driving innovation and companies are rising up to meet the demands of the energy marketplace,” said Clean Grid Alliance Executive Director Beth Soholt. “Clean Grid Alliance has worked for over a decade to reform MISO market rules to allow new players and emerging technologies the opportunity to provide value to electric customers. The SOO Green Renewable Rail transmission project is uniquely situated geographically to deliver our Midwest renewable energy to customers in the Eastern Interconnect, fulfilling important grid needs and providing clean, renewable energy that continues to be in high demand.
“Although the cost of wind and solar projects has fallen 69% in the last 10 years and no technological breakthroughs are needed to produce very economical projects, lack of adequate transmission capacity continues to be a barrier to renewable development. The cable technology the SOO Green project will use and the ability to locate the line along existing railroad easements and underground is a game changer,” said Soholt. “This is indeed a very exciting development and we look forward to harnessing additional Midwest wind for delivery on the SOO Green transmission line.
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About Clean Grid Alliance (CGA): Clean Grid Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minn., that works to advance renewable energy in the Midwest. Its members are comprised of wind, solar, and storage developers, environmental organizations, public interest groups, clean energy advocates, farm groups and businesses providing goods and services to the wind, solar, and storage industries.
