by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Little Rock-based regional transmission organization Southwest Power Pool has approved a $7.7 billion plan to expand and upgrade the region’s transmission capacity, according to a Tuesday (Oct. 29) news release.

The organization’s board of directors approved the plan Tuesday as demand rises for reliable electricity throughout its service territory, which includes a part of Arkansas.

According to the release, SPP’s 2024 Integrated Transmission Plan is the single largest portfolio in terms of size and value that SPP has proposed for construction in its 20-year history as a transmission planning coordinator. The approved plan includes 89 transmission upgrades needed to address increasing electricity consumption and changes in the region’s generating fleet. The 89 projects represent 2,333 miles of new transmission and 495 miles of transmission rebuilds.

SPP approves $7.7 billion plan to expand, upgrade transmission capacity