KCC will hold a public hearing in Dodge City to discuss Grain Belt AC Collector transmission lines

TOPEKA - The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) will hold an open house and public hearing on Wednesday, July 10 in Dodge City to discuss an application from Grain Belt LLC to site two 345 kV transmission lines designed to connect nearby wind and solar facilities to the Grain Belt Express line.

One line is planned to run through parts of Ford, Meade, and Gray Counties (the "Meade-Dodge City Line") and the other through parts of Ford County (the "Bucklin-Dodge City Line"). The AC Collector System was approved by the Commission in 2011 as part of the Grain Belt Express project. The route of the Grain Belt Express line was approved in 2013. An application requesting approval to determine the route of the AC Collector System was filed on May 31 of this year. The Commission will issue an order on the application on or before September 30, 2024.

Both the open house and public hearing will be held at Dodge City High School located at 2201 Ross Boulevard. All attendees are asked to use the Activity Parking Entrance. The open house will begin at 3 p.m. with KCC and Invenergy staff on hand to answer landowner questions followed by a public hearing at 6 p.m. During the hearing, attendees will have an opportunity to make comments before the Commission pertaining to the requested route of the lines.

For those unable to attend in person, a virtual option through Zoom is available to allow remote participants to comment and ask questions during the hearing. Zoom participants must register in advance on the KCC's website by noon on July 9. The hearings will also be broadcast live on the KCC's YouTube channel for viewing only with no registration required.

The Commission is accepting written comments through 5 p.m., July 15, 2024. Comments may be submitted on the KCC's website, by mail to the Commission's Office at 1500 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka, KS 66604-4027 or by calling the KCC's Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 785-271-3140 or 800-662-0027.