Grain Belt Express Awards $1.7B Contracts for Largest U.S. Transmission Line

The Grain Belt Express, the largest electric transmission project in the U.S., has awarded $1.7 billion in contracts to Quanta Services and Kiewit Energy Group to build an 800-mile high-voltage direct current line through Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Developed by Invenergy, the project will add 5,000 megawatts of capacity to the grid, with expected energy cost savings of $52 billion over 15 years and the creation of over 4,000 jobs in its first phase, which starts in 2026. The project emphasizes local sourcing of materials and has garnered support from regional officials for its economic and grid reliability benefits, aiming to strengthen U.S. energy security and meet rising electricity demand. However, opposition exists in Missouri, where Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called for a federal investigation, criticizing the project as a government-backed land grab that threatens farmers through eminent domain actions. Despite this, Grain Belt Express is promoted as a transformative infrastructure initiative supporting America’s energy transition and interregional transmission capabilities. The project continues to progress with landowner agreements and route modifications to minimize impact.