The FERC-approved Plains & Eastern’s Clean Line project consists of an approximately 750-mile overhead HVDC transmission line delivering approximately 3,500MW of clean energy from western Oklahoma, northern Texas and south-western Kansas to utilities and customers in Tennessee, Arkansas and other markets in the Mid-South and South-East, providing enough energy for over 1 million homes.

According to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the project will spur investment in renewable energy and help to create a sustainable future by creating jobs, reducing pollution and minimising water consumption.

Clean Line can now negotiate rates with customers, utilities and other load-serving entities or clean energy generators. It also now has the authority to subscribe up to 75% of the line’s transmission capacity with anchor tenants while the remainder will be offered through an open season process under the same terms and conditions as anchor customers.

“The Plains & Eastern Clean Line will create jobs, while enabling billions of dollars of investments in Oklahoma’s clean energy industry” said Oklahoma Energy Secretary Michael Ming

“Projects like the Plains & Eastern Clean Line will stimulate Arkansas’ clean energy industry while providing jobs, economic growth and a sustainable energy future for the state and the rest of the country” added Steve Patterson, Executive Director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA)

Clean Line has indicated its intention to employ local labour and service providers during construction. It has also signed agreements with General Cable to supply aluminium and steel conductor and Pelco Structural of Oklahoma for the manufacture of tubular steel structures. The project is expected to commence commercial operation in 2017.