(Radio Iowa) – The electric transmission provider I-T-C Midwest is now starting to upgrade and build new high voltage power lines through four eastern Iowa counties. Spokesperson Rod Pritchard says the Morgan Valley-Twinkle Project will connect a substation in Marshall County to one in Linn County, as part of the Long-Range Transmission Plan (L-R-T-P) to increase the supply of electricity.

(as said)“The load growth is definitely here, and so the L-R-T-P projects, including Morgan Valley-Twinkle, are going to help provide power to all of the load growth anticipated in the greater Cedar Rapids area,” Pritchard says.

The project was introduced before Google and Q-T-S announced their plans for data centers in Cedar Rapids that will need a lot of energy. Pritchard says that won’t impact the advantages of more robust transmission infrastructure and reduced congestion.

(as said)“We are confident that energy consumers will still realize the benefits of the project as envisioned by MISO ( Midcontinent Independent System Operator),” he says. The lines are expected to be in service by 2027.