Amid unprecedented electricity demand from data centers, cryptomining and industry operations, states are receiving a combined $1.9 billion in federal funds to improve their aging grids.
The Three Corners Connector is a planned 300-mile high-voltage transmission line between Guymon in Oklahoma’s panhandle and Pueblo in southern Colorado.
Houston-based Grid United is developing the project, which has resulted in $67 million in grants for the City of Guymon and Guymon Public Schools.
DOE Under Secretary for Energy Kyle Haustveit announced the cost-share funding on Thursday.
“It's not that we don't have enough electricity in most areas,” Haustveit said. “Most of the time, we lack the transmission capabilities to move it from one region where it's being generated to another region where it's needed.”
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is tasked with evaluating high-voltage transmission lines to ensure projects are necessary. Chair Kim David said the proposed line meets the state’s criteria.
“I can’t say it enough and I say it all the time: It's supportability, reliability, and resilience — this project meets all of that,” she said. “But also, this type of project has the possibility of driving costs down for our ratepayers, so we've been very excited about it.”
The total cost of the project is estimated at $832 million, according to the DOE.
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