Mid-Michigan powerline project narrows route options and begins state application

ITC Michigan filed a construction plan Wednesday with the Michigan Public Service Commission for its Oneida-Sabine Lake project, a proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line connecting Eaton and Livingston counties. The filing outlines a primary route and three alternatives across 16 municipalities in Eaton, Ingham, and Livingston counties.

The line would connect an existing substation in Oneida Township to a new substation in Cohoctah Township. The project is part of a broader regional effort to expand the electric transmission grid across the Midwest, with ITC stating the new infrastructure would improve reliability and help meet future electricity demands.

Residents have raised questions about where the power lines would be built and how nearby properties could be affected. ITC has scheduled 16 public meetings from Jan. 5 through Jan. 14, 2027, and expects to submit its formal application to the state in summer 2027.

Once the application is filed, the Public Service Commission will have one year to approve or deny the project. If approved, ITC expects construction to begin in 2030, with the transmission line entering service in 2032.

Read the full story at wkar.org.