Exclusive: Contentious power line's developer plans gas connection
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Invenergy, the company behind a huge proposed Kansas-to-Indiana transmission project facing political headwinds, will seek to connect a gas-fired power plant it's developing to the line, per a source close to the company.
State of play: Invenergy is also in active discussion with a company to bring existing coal-fired generation onto the proposed Grain Belt Express project, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Why it matters: Such fossil fuel-based connections could change how the line is perceived. It currently would connect large wind resources in Kansas to points eastward and has long been viewed as a major boost to renewables.
- In late November, the Energy Department's loan office that backs low-emissions tech announced a conditional $4.9 billion loan guarantee for the project's first phase.
- Invenergy has touted the project's ability to "unlock access to one of the strongest combined wind and solar energy resources in the United States."
The intrigue: Prominent Missouri GOP opponents of the line have criticized it as a green energy project and emphasized Biden-era federal support.
- GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said on X this month that he secured a pledge from Energy Secretary Chris Wright that he'll be "putting a stop to the Grain Belt Express green scam."
- Hawley said he had spoken directly with President Trump. Missouri AG Andrew Bailey — a Republican who has launched a probe of the project — has similarly called it part of the Biden-era "green new scam."
- Missouri GOP officials also have argued that Grain Belt Express runs against the interests of farmers and other landowners and criticized use of eminent domain.
DOE did not provide comment but has broadly said it is reviewing Biden-era loan commitments.
The other side: Invenergy says the project will enable grid reliability and meet growing demand.
- It said Hawley is trying to kill a massive project that's "aligned with the President's energy dominance agenda."
Zoom in: Under FERC rules, Grain Belt Express LLC is currently managing its own interconnection process until the project becomes operational, but it's open to all generators, the source explained.
What we're watching: Whether the gas proposal and coal discussions help erode political opposition.
