Proposal seeks new line in Audubon, Guthrie, and Adair counties

(Des Moines) — The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) will conduct a public hearing on a proposal by Heartland Divide Wind II, LLC (Heartland Divide), to build a 345 kV electric transmission line in Audubon, Guthrie, and Adair counties beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 18, 2021, in the Community Room at the Audubon Recreation Center.

All participants planning to attend the IUB hearing in person will be required to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

Heartland Divide filed its petition (application) to construct, maintain, and operate the approximately 38.88-mile electric transmission line on September 15, 2020, in Docket No. E-22432. The proposed line would connect proposed wind generation facilities in Audubon Country to a substation in Adair County.

Under Iowa Code chapter 478, the IUB has the authority to grant or deny the petition; Heartland Divide cannot build the proposed transmission line unless the IUB grants the franchise to do so. To obtain a franchise, the petitioners are required to show that the proposed line is necessary to serve a public use and represents a reasonable relationship to an overall plan of transmitting electricity in the public interest.

Information about the electric transmission line franchise process is available on the IUB’s website.

Following the hearing, the IUB will review all evidence presented by Heartland Divide, the Office of Consumer Advocate, a division of the Iowa Department of Justice, and any objectors. The IUB also will review Iowa law and rules, previous court cases, and IUB orders that apply to this case before issuing a written final decision and order.