PJM Clears 765‑kV Corridor for Central Ohio Growth; American Electric Power (AEP) Leads Buildout

PJM clears major 765‑kV corridor for central Ohio growth

Regional grid operator PJM Interconnection approves a major electric transmission project that American Electric Power Co. helps develop to meet rising demand in central Ohio and strengthen reliability around Columbus. The proposal, put forward through PJM’s 2025 Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) Open Window, wins Board of Managers approval and moves into development under a new joint venture, Grid Growth Ventures LLC. The companies say the work addresses load growth tied to manufacturing, data centers and electric vehicle deployments.

AEP leans on extra‑high‑voltage experience to lead buildout

American Electric Power’s transmission arm is central to the plan, which couples Transource Energy LLC (a partnership of AEP and Evergy) with FirstEnergy Transmission LLC to design roughly 300 miles of new 765‑kilovolt (kV) lines and associated substation upgrades. AEP Transmission President Doug Cannon notes the company’s “unmatched experience” in 765‑kV development and U.S. leadership in extra‑high‑voltage ownership, positioning the utility to consolidate bulk power into a single corridor that reduces land use and environmental impact compared with multiple lower‑voltage circuits.

Project planners highlight operational and economic benefits, saying one 765‑kV line can power about two million homes and that concentrating load on extra‑high‑voltage infrastructure cuts required right‑of‑way width by roughly half. The partners stress the buildout is intended to deliver more reliable service, faster restoration after outages and better access to affordable, stable power that supports long‑term economic development in the region. FirstEnergy Transmission President Mark Mroczynski underscores the system’s central location amid growing demand in the Columbus market.

Approval follows PJM technical and economic review under RTEP and initiates staged construction aligned with load forecasts and interconnection studies. Grid Growth Ventures says schedules and costs will be refined through stakeholder review, permitting and further engineering; work is planned in phases to match projected needs and to limit disruptions during implementation.

Broader system implications and resilience

PJM coordinates wholesale electricity across a 13‑state footprint, and the new corridor is intended to bolster regional transfer capability and resilience as energy use intensifies. Developers portray the project as foundational infrastructure that attracts energy‑intensive businesses while supporting decarbonization trends that increase grid load.

Environmental and siting impacts

By consolidating power on extra‑high‑voltage lines, the companies argue the project reduces land disturbance and environmental footprint versus multiple lower‑voltage circuits, a factor expected to figure in permitting and stakeholder discussions as the plan moves forward.