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Released February 28, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--On Thursday, leading U.S. power developer American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) (AEP) (Columbus, Ohio) announced that it would invest $1.7 billion in transmission system upgrades in the PJM grid region, including Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Some of the funds will go toward newly announced projects from Valley Link Transmission Company LLC, a joint venture of AEP, Dominion Energy Incorporated (NYSE:D) (Richmond, Virginia) and FirstEnergy Transmission (Akron, Ohio), while other funds will go toward other AEP projects in Indiana, Ohio and Virginia.
Bill Fehrman, chief executive officer of AEP, said, "Our experience building the largest transmission system in North America made us an ideal candidate to help address the needs that PJM identified during their planning process. Our teams are ready to get to work engaging with our communities and stakeholders and are excited about being part of powering additional economic development opportunities in the region."
The projects were proposed through the Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) process, in which PJM asked developers to submit project solutions to transmission needs, and plans were selected to implement. PJM is seeking projects in this window to be in service by 2029. AEP's submitted projects included placing new transmission lines and upgrading existing ones, constructing new substations and replacing existing substation equipment.
A portion of the funds will go to projects that PJM just accepted from Valley Link Transmission, the joint venture of AEP, Dominion and FirstEnergy. These projects include new 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland as well as a new substation in Virginia. Industrial Info will provide more details as its researchers uncover them.
The remaining funds will go toward AEP transmission and distribution (T&D) projects in Indiana, Ohio and Virginia. Industrial Info is tracking more than $4 billion worth of AEP T&D projects in these three states. Several of these may be contenders for AEP's selection of projects, with more than half having anticipated completion dates between 2027 and the end of 2029, which would easily fit PJM's criteria for completion in its latest round of selections.
Several projects include rebuilds and upgrades to existing lines and networks. Such projects include the New Liberty-East Leipsic transmission line upgrade in Ohio, which entails upgrading 20 miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, including replacing the aging wood poles with steel ones. The transmission line will run from the East Leipsic substation to the planned Radar substation in McComb and on to the New Liberty substation in Findlay. The new Radar station will replace an aging facility in McComb. The East Leipsic station itself will be upgraded with an additional circuit breaker, disconnect switches and more. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed in late 2027. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
Another project that possibly could be part of the newly funded upgrades is the Winchester Area Improvement Project in eastern Indiana. A couple of miles of transmission line will be rebuilt that connect two substations that are slated for upgrades. The company's Anchor Hocking substation will be upgraded to a five-breaker ring bus to accommodate five elements: two transmission lines and three distribution transformers. The transformer at the Winchester substation will be replaced and a new circuit breaker will be added to accommodate the rebuilt transmission line. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, putting the projects on track for completion in late 2028. Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
Virginia projects from AEP include the South Christiansburg-Midway transmission line rebuild, which also includes the upgrade of three substations. AEP will rebuild four miles of overhead, single-circuit transmission line, including pole replacements, and add one mile of line to the existing Midway substation. In addition, aging equipment will be replaced at the Cambria, Hans Meadow, Midway and Tech Drive substations to accommodate increased power loads. The projects are expected to commence in 2027, putting them on track for a 2028 or 2029 completion.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Database can click here to view reports for many of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Bill Fehrman, chief executive officer of AEP, said, "Our experience building the largest transmission system in North America made us an ideal candidate to help address the needs that PJM identified during their planning process. Our teams are ready to get to work engaging with our communities and stakeholders and are excited about being part of powering additional economic development opportunities in the region."
The projects were proposed through the Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) process, in which PJM asked developers to submit project solutions to transmission needs, and plans were selected to implement. PJM is seeking projects in this window to be in service by 2029. AEP's submitted projects included placing new transmission lines and upgrading existing ones, constructing new substations and replacing existing substation equipment.
A portion of the funds will go to projects that PJM just accepted from Valley Link Transmission, the joint venture of AEP, Dominion and FirstEnergy. These projects include new 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland as well as a new substation in Virginia. Industrial Info will provide more details as its researchers uncover them.
The remaining funds will go toward AEP transmission and distribution (T&D) projects in Indiana, Ohio and Virginia. Industrial Info is tracking more than $4 billion worth of AEP T&D projects in these three states. Several of these may be contenders for AEP's selection of projects, with more than half having anticipated completion dates between 2027 and the end of 2029, which would easily fit PJM's criteria for completion in its latest round of selections.
Several projects include rebuilds and upgrades to existing lines and networks. Such projects include the New Liberty-East Leipsic transmission line upgrade in Ohio, which entails upgrading 20 miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, including replacing the aging wood poles with steel ones. The transmission line will run from the East Leipsic substation to the planned Radar substation in McComb and on to the New Liberty substation in Findlay. The new Radar station will replace an aging facility in McComb. The East Leipsic station itself will be upgraded with an additional circuit breaker, disconnect switches and more. Construction is expected to begin this fall and be completed in late 2027. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
Another project that possibly could be part of the newly funded upgrades is the Winchester Area Improvement Project in eastern Indiana. A couple of miles of transmission line will be rebuilt that connect two substations that are slated for upgrades. The company's Anchor Hocking substation will be upgraded to a five-breaker ring bus to accommodate five elements: two transmission lines and three distribution transformers. The transformer at the Winchester substation will be replaced and a new circuit breaker will be added to accommodate the rebuilt transmission line. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, putting the projects on track for completion in late 2028. Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project Database can learn more by viewing the related project reports.
Virginia projects from AEP include the South Christiansburg-Midway transmission line rebuild, which also includes the upgrade of three substations. AEP will rebuild four miles of overhead, single-circuit transmission line, including pole replacements, and add one mile of line to the existing Midway substation. In addition, aging equipment will be replaced at the Cambria, Hans Meadow, Midway and Tech Drive substations to accommodate increased power loads. The projects are expected to commence in 2027, putting them on track for a 2028 or 2029 completion.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Database can click here to view reports for many of the projects discussed in this article and click here for the related plant profiles.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
