Implementing a GIS Methodology for Siting High Voltage Electric Transmission Lines

Standardization of high voltage electric transmission line siting methodologies, by using GIS spatial analysis tools, has great potential in helping predict and defend new optimal route corridors. A standard methodology that incorporates multiple weighted perspectives of influence can aid in the route approval by the governmental and regulating permitting entities and the support of the affected public. Users of transmission line siting methodologies must fully understand, implement, and remain unbiased in the tools used to ensure results remain consistent, reliable, and defendable. Great River Energy (GRE) had a need for a tool to help in the decision making process of siting their transmission lines. Too often in the past, a transmission line route was chosen using expert judgment, and then if needed, a case to defend it for the permitting process was built. By utilizing the Electric Power Research Institute-Georgia Transmission Corporation (EPRI-GTC) Overhead Electric Transmission Line Siting Methodology and applying needed changes based on corporate guidelines, regional factors, and work process, an adapted GRE transmission-siting model was developed by this study. GRE will have a valuable tool to utilize in new transmission line projects to help in the transmission line siting process for attaining regulatory and public approval. The steps, analysis, and results to build and run the methodology are included in this paper and utilized on a potential transmission project.