The US Department of Energy (DoE) has selected the Three Corners Connector project to enter negotiations for potential funding through the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) programme.
The Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services submitted an application for up to $250m in federal funding through this scheme, naming Three Corners Connector as a sub-recipient.
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This funding would support the development of a planned 300-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) line linking the eastern and western interconnections of the US power grid, with endpoints in Oklahoma and Colorado.
The Three Corners Connector transmission line project is designed to more than double the current 1.32GW transfer capacity between the two electricity networks.
The SPARK programme aims to support critical upgrades to the US transmission system, promoting improved reliability and increased grid interconnectivity.
The DoE announced the selected projects, opening the path for financial negotiations that could lead to a formal assistance agreement.
If finalised, most of the proposed funding would be allocated to engineering and materials necessary for the construction of transmission towers, which are considered core components of the overall project.
Three Corners Connector development senior director Bryant Coon said: “The Great Plains is a cornerstone of the country’s energy system, and connecting the eastern and western grids here strengthens reliability on both sides.
“Selection for SPARK funding helps Oklahoma and Three Corners Connector build toward a more resilient energy future, and we look forward to advancing the project alongside the stakeholders who have helped shape its development.”
The project remains in the planning and development phase, having proposed a route extending from a substation in Pueblo, Colorado, to a proposed substation near Guymon, Oklahoma.
Full approval is expected in 2026, with construction set to begin after all regulatory and land rights requirements are met.
Project developers anticipate that the operational launch could take place as early as 2031.
The transmission line will be capable of transporting electricity of all generation types and moving power in both directions as needed.
