Grain Belt Express Clean Line Announces a Collaboration Agreement With The Nature Conservancy's Missouri Chapter

HOUSTON, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Clean Line Energy Partners LLC (Clean Line) of Houston, Texas is pleased to announce an innovative collaboration agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Missouri.  The agreement provides that TNC will provide information, advice and feedback to Clean Line during the development of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line in order to help Clean Line site the transmission line in a manner that avoids or reduces impact on environmentally sensitive areas in Missouri.

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The Nature Conservancy's Missouri State Director Todd Sampsell said, "The Missouri program of The Nature Conservancy is pleased to have the opportunity to work with Clean Line Energy to provide conservation information and recommendations for this project.  Effective, efficient energy transmission is essential for meeting human needs, and this must be accomplished in a manner that sustains the natural resources upon which our quality of life ultimately depends.  We look forward to collaborating with Clean Line to ensure these objectives are met."

The Grain Belt Express Clean Line is a 550-mile overhead, high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that will deliver wind power from western Kansas to population centers in Missouri and farther east.  By connecting some of the best wind resources in the country to markets with greater demand for power, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line will enable over 3,500 megawatts of new wind energy projects to be built.  The Grain Belt Express Clean Line will create thousands of jobs, facilitate low cost clean energy, and deliver enough energy to power more than 1.4 million American homes.

"Siting a transmission line is a long and challenging process and it's our responsibility and intent to develop and build this project the right way. We appreciate the opportunity to work with and receive guidance from the Missouri Chapter of The Nature Conservancy as we gather relevant information that will aid in the development, construction and operation of the Grain Belt Express Clean Line," said Michael Skelly, President of Clean Line Energy. He continued by stating, "Lack of transmission is currently limiting the growth of renewable energy in the United States. Projects like the Grain Belt Express Clean Line can help the state of Missouri assume a leadership position in the clean energy economy by delivering abundant, low cost, reliable, clean energy to Missouri consumers."

According to a study by ICF International, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 12 million tons per year, equivalent to removing over 1.7 million cars from the road.  In addition, the Grain Belt Express Clean Line will reduce nitrogen oxide pollution, a contributor to smog, by approximately 7,500 tons per year and reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, a precursor to acid rain, by 29,600 tons per year. In addition to environmental benefits, the project will enable $7 billion of investment in new wind farms in the region, which will send ripple effects into the growing wind energy supply chain in Missouri.  

About Clean Line Energy Partners: Clean Line's mission is to connect abundant, renewable energy resources to areas that have a high demand for clean, reliable energy. Clean Line is developing a series of high voltage direct current transmission projects to move renewable energy to market. For more information please visit www.CleanLineEnergy.com.  For more information about the Grain Belt Express Clean Line, please visit www.GrainBeltExpressCleanLine.com.

About The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.

In Missouri, The Nature Conservancy has focused on the state's most important freshwater resources and native prairie and woodland ecosystems.  Together with our members and conservation partners, the Conservancy has protected more than 145,000 acres of critical natural areas in Missouri since 1956. Visit us on the Web at    www.nature.org/missouri.

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SOURCE Clean Line Energy Partners LLC