BRANCH COUNTY, Mich. (WLKI)- A proposed high-voltage transmission project could bring new power lines through portions of Branch County as part of a larger regional effort to modernize the electric grid.
ITC Holdings Corp., through ITC Transmission, has announced plans for the Horizon Project, a proposed 765-kilovolt transmission line extending about 68 miles from the Horizon Substation in Ida Township in Monroe County to the Indiana-Michigan border.
The preliminary project area includes portions of Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties. Specific route corridors have not yet been selected.
ITC is working with engineering firm Burns & McDonnell to evaluate potential routes and identify social, cultural and natural resources that could affect the final decision.
The project is part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's Long-Range Transmission Plan.
According to project documents, the line would require a 250-foot-wide right-of-way. Structures could stand between 150 and 185 feet tall and be placed about 1,200 to 1,450 feet apart, depending on terrain and site conditions.
ITC says the project is intended to strengthen the electric grid during extreme weather, support the changing energy landscape and lower long-term delivery costs for ratepayers.
Residents and local governments are being asked to comment on possible routes, environmental impacts and land-use concerns. Comments are due to the project's routing team by Oct. 30.