Operators of a completed $347 million, 70-mile power transmission line connecting Greentown Station near Kokomo to the Reynolds Station in Reynolds say it’s the first of many steps to improve reliability of electricity delivery to the Midwest and parts of Canada.   

Pioneer Transmission LLC – a joint venture of Duke Energy, American Electric Power and Northern Indiana Public Service Company on June 26 announced the completion of the project, which began in 2013. It included upgrades to the Reynolds Station in addition to the new extra-high voltage 765-kilovolt transmission line.

“This collaborative project with AEP, Duke and NIPSCO strengthens the reliability of the energy system for customers and provides a new pathway for delivering renewable energy, such as wind power, to all customers in the region,” said Lisa Barton, executive vice president, AEP Transmission.

The Greentown-Reynolds project is one of 17 priority Multi-Value Projects identified by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. (MISO), which controls and operates the power transmission grid for all or parts of 15 Midwest U.S. states, including Indiana, and the Canadian province of Manitoba. These priority projects together support regional reliability, broaden access to renewable energy and help ensure customers have access to affordable energy delivery options.

“The improvements we're making to the energy grid in this area allow us to provide better service to customers and meet their desire for access to cleaner energy,” said Violet Sistovaris, NIPSCO president.

Developers say the Greentown-Reynolds line is the first phase of Pioneer Transmission's 290-mile plan to connect Duke Energy's Greentown Station to AEP's Rockport Station east of Evansville.

Duke Energy is based in North Carolina. American Electric Power is based in Columbus, Ohio. NIPSCO is based in Merrillville and serves about 810,000 natural gas and 460,000 electric customers across northern Indiana.