AEP proposes transmission line

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- U.S.-based American Electric Power has proposed a new line for renewable energy transmission.

The regional extra-high-voltage transmission line would run across the Upper Midwestern United States and transmit up to 765 kilovolts of power from renewable power projects such as wind plants in the Dakotas.

AEP currently is evaluating the feasibility of such a line. It would run from the Dakotas to near Chicago.

Grid connection is one of the challenges of wind power and other renewable power projects.

"A critical component of our nation's approach to addressing climate change is the ability to harvest our most viable renewable generation resources … but the wind potential in this region cannot be developed unless we build a very efficient transmission superhighway," said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer.