“These transmission facilities will foster the delivery of renewable resources from the West and strengthen reliability in the region,” said Dairyland Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ben Porath. “Dairyland has a strong history of owning and operating 69 kV and 161 kV transmission projects in our four-state region. Although Dairyland has co-owned 345 kV projects, this is a milestone as it will be Dairyland’s first opportunity to both own and operate a 345 kV transmission line as our cooperative readies for the energy transition.”
About the Alma-Blair Transmission Project: The new 345 kV transmission line is located from the Mississippi River near Alma, WI, to the Tremval substation near Blair, WI. The scope of work of the Alma-Blair Transmission Project includes installation of new 345 kV conductor, insulators and hardware on replaced double-circuit structures in tandem with Dairyland’s 161 kV transmission line. This project is recommended by MISO as part of Tranche 1 of their Long Range Transmission Plan (LRTP). It is part of LRTP4, a broader group of transmission projects that extend from the Wilmarth substation near Mankato, MN, to the Tremval substation near Blair, WI. The LRTP4 projects are expected to be in service by June 1, 2028. Additional information about MISO awarded competitive bids can be found here.