Grain Belt Express, the largest electric transmission project in U.S. history, has awarded nearly $1.7 billion in construction and engineering contracts to Quanta Services and Kiewit Energy Group Inc., marking a major milestone in the development of an 800-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line.

Spanning Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, the Grain Belt Express project will connect four major grid regions, adding 5,000 megawatts of energy delivery capacity and aiming to generate $52 billion in energy cost savings over 15 years. Construction on Phase 1, connecting Kansas and Missouri, is set to begin in 2026 and is expected to create over 4,000 jobs.

Michael Polsky, Founder & CEO of Invenergy, said the project is “transformative,” bolstering U.S. energy security and expanding domestic supply chains. Offices supporting construction will be based in Overland Park and Lenexa, KS.

The selection of Quanta and Kiewit underscores a commitment to local sourcing, including materials and labor from Kansas and Missouri. Additional partners include Prysmian North America, Hubbell, and Siemens Energy, all contributing to U.S. manufacturing and grid modernization.

Backed by over 1,500 landowner agreements, the project’s first phase is nearly 95% acquired and will support both existing and new energy generation infrastructure.