COLWICH, Kan. (AP) A groundbreaking ceremony launched construction on a 108-mile power line between Colwich and Medicine Lodge.
Officials from the state, Westar and their partners broke ground on Wednesday near Colwich. Twin 345-kilovolt lines will stretch from Colwich to Medicine Lodge, where it will connect with another line being built by ITC Great Plains. That line will stretch to near Dodge City.
The Wichita Eagle reports Prairie Wind Transmission will also extend a line south from Medicine Lodge to connect to major transmission lines at Woodward, Okla.
Westar executive Doug Sterbenz says the new lines will make the region’s power grid more efficient, and also should encourage development of wind farms in central and western Kansas.