A 260-mile transmission expansion project spanning five counties and two states is complete, capping a two-year project that Black Hills Energy says will provide long-term price stability for energy customers and support Wyoming’s growing energy needs.
The $350 million Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. It was completed on Dec. 29.
“Our team and partners did a remarkable job meticulously planning and successfully executing this complex project to make our vision a reality in only three years since project approval,” said Wes Ashton, vice president of Black Hills Energy.
The project is key in facilitating renewable energy development across the state and increasing access to Wyoming’s energy resources, Ashton said.
The transmission line will connect the grid that serves the Weston County towns of Newcastle, Upton, and Osage with the utility's service area in southeast Wyoming.
It passes through four Wyoming counties — Converse, Laramie, Goshen, and Platte — and Scotts Bluff County in Nebraska.
Ready Wyoming ties electric systems in Wyoming and South Dakota together by connecting Black Hills Energy and Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power transmission systems. The transmission expansion includes one new substation and six replacement or expanded substations.
“With an interconnected transmission system, we are able to deliver and support more low-cost power generation resources across a broader regional footprint,” Ashton told Cowboy State Daily.
The expansion project supports Black Hills Energy’s ability to serve new customers, he said.
The project provided an estimated 1,367 construction jobs and is estimated to bring in about $570,000 annually to Wyoming’s economy, according to a study by the University of Wyoming’s Center for Economic and Business Analysis.
"By having this grid, it not only will provide more resiliency for all customers, it will allow that low-cost energy to be transmitted more freely by having room to be transmitted both directions," Ashton previously told Cowboy State Daily.
In an email on Thursday, he said, “This is a transformational achievement for Black Hills Energy and for our customers, as it will benefit our customers for decades to come.”
Contact Kate Meadows at kate@cowboystatedaily.com
The $350 million, 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. The company claims it will provide long-term price stability and link Wyoming and South Dakotas power grids. (Black Hills Service Co.) 
The $350 million, 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. The company claims it will provide long-term price stability and link Wyoming and South Dakotas power grids. (Black Hills Service Co.) 
The $350 million, 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. The company claims it will provide long-term price stability and link Wyoming and South Dakotas power grids. (Black Hills Energy via YouTube) 
The $350 million, 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. The company claims it will provide long-term price stability and link Wyoming and South Dakotas power grids. (Black Hills Service Co.)
