The U.S. Department of Energy has cancelled a $4.9 billion conditional loan for the Grain Belt Express, a high-voltage transmission line project aimed at transporting wind-generated electricity from Kansas to Indiana, crossing Missouri and Illinois.

In a news release on Wednesday, the department said the project is no longer deemed essential for federal support. The loan was originally issued under the Biden administration in November 2024.

The project's developer, Invenergy, expressed disappointment but reaffirmed its commitment to completing the line with private financing. Martin Grego, spokesperson for the Grain Belt Express, said it remains "America's largest power pipeline" and aligns with President Trump's energy and infrastructure agenda.

The announcement was welcomed by opponents, including Sen. Josh Hawley and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who have long criticized the project's use of eminent domain to acquire land from private property owners.

Grain Belt Express, in development for over a decade, had received regulatory approval in all four states. It was projected to save Missourians $17 billion in electricity costs and improve grid reliability. It also faced strong opposition from landowner groups and some Republican lawmakers.

Gretchen Waddell-Barwick, director of the Sierra Club Missouri Chapter, condemned the decision, calling it politically motivated and a blow to grid resilience and rural energy affordability.

The future of the Grain Belt Express remains uncertain, but Invenergy says it will pursue the project using private capital.

We previously reported on this project -- you can read that coverage here.

Source: missouriindependent.com