Ameren has placed the Knox County Connector transmission project into service in Illinois, strengthening grid reliability and improving the region’s ability to meet growing electricity demand.
The completed project includes approximately 11 miles of new and upgraded high-voltage transmission lines, with most of the infrastructure rebuilt along existing transmission corridors and co-located with existing Ameren Illinois facilities. The new transmission line connects the Sandburg substation near Galesburg to facilities near Oneida.
According to the company, the project replaces aging transmission infrastructure that, in some cases, had been in service for more than 100 years. The upgrades are expected to enhance grid resilience, improve reliability and support evolving energy requirements across Knox County.
“A stronger transmission system in Knox County gives residents and businesses in this region greater access to a balanced mix of safe, reliable and low-cost energy sources,” said Shawn Schukar, Chairman and President of Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois. “This new infrastructure is built to serve communities for decades to come.”
Ameren said the project team worked closely with local stakeholders throughout the routing and planning process, incorporating community feedback into the final design. The company also prioritized hiring Illinois-based union electrical workers during construction to support local employment and economic benefits.
“Our project team appreciates everyone who shared their feedback and ideas with us throughout the routing process. We are thankful for those comments because they helped us propose a design and plan that will best serve the community,” said Joe DeGreeff, Project Manager for Ameren. “During construction, we made it a priority to keep the jobs and benefits here at home by hiring Illinois-based union electric workers.”
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