The Kansas State Corporation Commission on Dec. 6 extended the date for Clean Line Energy Partners LLC to begin construction of its multi-state Grain Belt Express transmission line to Dec. 2, 2019 to allow the agency to rule on Invenergy Transmission LLC’s anticipated application to buy the project.

The commission granted a siting permit on Nov. 7, 2013 for 370 miles of the 750-mile high voltage, direct current transmission line designed to deliver 4,000 megawatts of wind power from Western Kansas to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and the neighboring states. The order required Grain Belt to start construction within five years after obtaining other necessary approvals from Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. However, the project has been delayed due to litigation. In July, the Missouri Supreme Court reversed the Missouri Public Service Commission’s permit denial finding that the agency erroneously concluded it could not approve project without the utility first receiving consent from the affected counties. In Illinois, Grain Belt is working to acquire property in the state, as required by Illinois courts, to enable it submit a new certificate application with the state regulators.

Explaining the delays, in September, the company asked the Kansas commission to extend the sunset date by five years to Nov. 7, 2023, but the agency granted an extension until March 1 to evaluate Grain Belt’s financial, managerial, and technical ability to complete the project. Last month, Grain Belt asked for a stay of the sunset provisions citing an agreement to be acquired by Invenergy pending commission approval.