Ameren has turned in three possible route options to the state for consideration. The Spoon River Transmission Line is slated to be in service by 2018.The preferred route travels through East Galesburg and then runs along Interstate 74 until reaching Peoria. Ameren’s Leigh Morris said the utility tries to run lines along highways when possible.
“We have found through past experience those tend to be the least disruptive and are able to mitigate impact to the greatest degree,” Morris said.
The project would also require a new substation to be built next to an existing on in East Galesburg.
Ameren had original considered a route that would have cut through Knox Station Prairie near East Galesburg. That route is not being recommending to the state.
“We are very pleased it [the route] doesn’t go right over the prairie,” said Dan Thompson, a retired biologist. “I think this is an improvement.”
Ameren’s preferred route runs through wooded areas less than a mile east of Knox Station Prairie.
Retired Biologist Dan Thompson said that could be problematic because of the 150 foot wide clearing that needs to be made to accommodate the transmission line that will feature single shaft steel poles.
“When you clear land and don’t manage it, any plant with seeds can find its way in there,” Thompson said. “A number of those plans will be invasive, meaning they don’t belong. And being somewhat close to the prairie, the seeds can find their way to the prairie whether through the wind or the coats of deer and raccoons and all kinds of animals.”
That would disturb the nearly 13 acre prairie remnant nestled between Mine Road and the railroad tracks.
“Unfortunately the Knox Prairie is not totally devoid of invasive weeds, but it’s not overrun by them,” Thompson said. “It’s possible in the future that if it gets too many parts of it can be taken over by weeds.”
Thompson says supporters of Knox Station Prairie plan to ask the Illinois Commerce Commission to move the route more to the northeast so it crosses through farm land instead of woods.
“There are special, plants, special insects and it’s a place where some animals can live that are hard to find otherwise,” Thompson said. “We wonder what’s going to happen after it’s done and whether it can still be moved out of the woods, literally and figuratively.”
Landowners and interveners are able to submit comments about the proposal to the ICC.
"An intervener doesn't mean that they oppose anything or support anything,” Leigh Morris said. “It means that they wish to be part of the process."
The ICC could accept one of Ameren’s proposed routes or create a new route. A decision should be ready by next year.
Once a route is approved, all affected landowners will be contacted to negotiate easement agreements.
Construction is expected to begin by 2016.
