ComEd today announced that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its proposed plan to construct a new transmission line in DeKalb County to reinforce grid reliability and resilience, meet rising energy demand from businesses and residents in the region and support economic growth. The ICC issued ComEd a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which authorizes a public utility to construct certain major infrastructure projects following a public review process that evaluates whether the project is needed, appropriately designed, and in the public interest.
“We are pleased that the ICC recognized our commitment to seeking input from local governments, landowners and stakeholders and that their views are represented in the proposed routes for the KARE Project,” said David Perez, ComEd’s executive vice president and COO. “KARE represents the least cost and best fit approach to meeting the growing demand for electricity in the area. It will also help support Illinois’ clean energy transition by providing the potential to accommodate the interconnection of renewable energy resources.”
The Kishwaukee Area Reliability Extension (KARE) Project will be constructed south of the city of DeKalb. The project includes a double-circuit 345 kilovolt (kV) overhead transmission line extending approximately 6 miles on existing right-of-way — as well as a new 345 kV and 138 kV substation. An existing ComEd transmission line will be extended to connect with the new substation near the intersection of Keslinger Road and Crego Road in Afton Township. The Project will help ensure that the transmission system has the ability to connect future customers, businesses and other facilities that may be needed as demand for electricity grows.
In addition to holding public meetings, ComEd met with local landowners to answer questions about the Project and the proposed routing options. The Project has also been shared with DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes and representatives of the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation.
“We are pleased to see the KARE Project move forward,” said Mayor Barnes. “The DeKalb region’s economic growth is placing new demands on all forms of infrastructure, including the electrical grid, and this plan will help meet current and future energy requirements of businesses and residential customers who have come to expect reliable service from ComEd in the face of more frequent and severe storms.”
ComEd partnered with Burns & McDonnell, a nationally recognized engineering firm in the electrical transmission sector, to conduct the routing study for the KARE Project. Data was collected in a 23-square-mile area to inform the development of route alternatives and assess existing conditions and the natural and cultural resources within the study area. The proposed routing options were designed to minimize impact on the land and surrounding community.
The KARE Project is the first ComEd transmission line requiring ICC siting approval since the Grand Prairie Gateway, which went into service in 2017 and extends for 60 miles across Ogle, DeKalb, Kane, and DuPage Counties.
About ComEd
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving nearly 11 million electricity and natural gas customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information, visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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