The lines would take power from the wind-abundant areas in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa to Midwest load centres. The project aims to address the lack of electric transmission infrastructure needed to integrate wind energy.

The Green Power Express transmission project will traverse portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana and will ultimately include approximately 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage (765 kV) transmission. The entire project is currently estimated to cost approximately US$10-12 billion.

"The Green Power Express is in many ways the true definition of a 'smart grid'," says Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president and Chief Executive Officer of ITC.

An application has been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting approval of a revenue requirement formula and incentives for the construction of the Green Power Express.

ITC will seek to partner with local utilities and wind developers in the region for the build out of the Green Power Express. Current supporters include: NorthWestern Energy, NextEra Energy (formerly FPLE), Iberdrola Renewables, Generation Energy Inc, Montgomery Power Partners, Denali Energy, National Wind, Crownbutte Wind Power, Wind Capital Group and RES Americas.