Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
DOE selects Three Corners Connector for grid funding negotiations

DOE selects Three Corners Connector for grid funding negotiations

Built World

300-mile HVDC line would link eastern and western US grids, more than doubling transfer capacity

October 19th, 2026: Pueblo County land-use review focuses on route and property concerns

Overview

Updated Oct 20

The U.S. Department of Energy selected the Three Corners Connector, a 300-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power line between Oklahoma and Colorado, to negotiate for up to $250 million in federal money. Oklahoma regulators approved the state's portion in July. In Colorado, a Pueblo County land-use review has drawn questions from property owners along the proposed route.

The line would more than double the 1,320 megawatts of transfer capacity between the eastern and western U.S. grids. Grid United, the developer, has engineering and permitting running through 2027, with construction projected to start that year and service in 2031, according to the Pueblo Star Journal. Bent County approved a special-use permit in 2026 over objections from the Southern Plains Land Trust about crossing Heartland Ranch.

Why it matters

If built, the line would let power flow both ways between the eastern and western U.S. grids, easing reliability strain and lowering costs.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

$250M
Federal funding requested
Up to $250 million requested from DOE's SPARK program, mainly for engineering and transmission tower materials.
$832.2M
Value in SPARK application
Total project value listed in the SPARK application, including recipient cost-share. Other accounts describe the full 300-mile line as a $2 billion project.
483 km
Line length
300-mile high-voltage direct current line from Guymon, Oklahoma to Pueblo, Colorado.
1,800 MW
New transfer capacity
More than doubles the existing 1,320 MW capacity between eastern and western grids.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

Bryant Coon
Bryant Coon
Senior Director of Development, Three Corners Connector
Leading project development and public engagement

Organizations Involved

U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Federal agency
Running the SPARK program; selected Three Corners Connector for funding negotiations

The federal agency administering the SPARK program, which funds transmission upgrades across 26 states.
Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services
Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services
State Agency
Prime applicant for the SPARK award

Oklahoma's state administrative agency, which applied for the federal funding with Three Corners Connector as subrecipient.
Three Corners Connector (Grid United)
Three Corners Connector (Grid United)
Transmission project developer
Subrecipient of the SPARK award; pursuing remaining Colorado permits and land rights

Developer of the 300-mile high-voltage direct current line connecting Guymon, Oklahoma and Pueblo, Colorado.
Southwest Power Pool
Southwest Power Pool
Regional transmission organization
One of the two grids the line would connect

The regional grid operator covering Oklahoma and surrounding states, one endpoint of the Three Corners Connector.
Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Western Electricity Coordinating Council
Regional entity
The other grid the line would connect

The entity coordinating the western U.S. electric grid, the other endpoint of the Three Corners Connector.

Timeline

2026 October 2026

8 events Latest: October 19th, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Pueblo County land-use review focuses on route and property concerns

    Latest Regulatory

    The Pueblo Star Journal reports the county's review has brought the proposed corridor and its proximity to existing infrastructure into focus, with concerns raised by affected property owners.

  2. Three Corners Connector enters funding negotiations

    Negotiation

    Project celebrates selection, begins negotiations with DOE for up to $250 million.

  3. DOE selects Three Corners Connector

    Selection

    DOE announces 31 projects across 26 states selected for SPARK funding; Three Corners Connector is among them.

  4. Oklahoma Corporation Commission approves Three Corners Connector certificate

    Regulatory

    The commission issued Final Order No. 759344, approving the Oklahoma portion of the line: about 66 miles of HVDC and 9 miles of AC infrastructure plus a converter station.

  5. SPARK application deadline passes

    Application

    OMES submits Three Corners Connector application for up to $250 million.

  6. DOE issues SPARK funding opportunity

    Announcement

    Department of Energy opens $1.9 billion SPARK program for transmission upgrades.

  7. Three Corners Connector files for Oklahoma Certificate of Authority

    Filing

    The developer applied to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for authority to build, own, operate and maintain transmission facilities in the state.

  8. Bent County approves special-use permit for the line

    Regulatory

    Bent County, Colorado approved a special-use permit, drawing objections from the Southern Plains Land Trust over the planned crossing of Heartland Ranch.

Scenarios

1

Three Corners Connector secures final SPARK award

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: DOE's SPARK program timeline and project announcements

DOE and OMES complete negotiations and sign a formal financial assistance agreement. The $250 million would support engineering and materials for transmission towers. DOE's stated award window is October 2026 through January 2027, making this the expected path.

2

Negotiations stall, funding reduced or withdrawn

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Risk inherent in the negotiation stage

The negotiation process stalls or the final award comes in well below the requested $250 million. DOE's expected award window is October 2026 to January 2027; if that passes without a deal, the project would need to find other funding or proceed without federal support.

3

Project delayed, operational date slips past 2031

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Project timeline in Three Corners Connector materials

The project still needs final regulatory approvals (expected in 2026), remaining land rights, and construction. If any of these slip, the 2031 operational target could move. The project's own materials note construction starts only after land rights and approvals are secured.

4

Colorado land-rights dispute slows construction

Possible

Discussed by: Southern Plains Land Trust objections to the Heartland Ranch crossing

Bent County approved a special-use permit in 2026, but the Southern Plains Land Trust opposes the line's planned crossing of Heartland Ranch. Most of the corridor crosses private land and rights-of-way are still being acquired, so a prolonged dispute could push construction past the 2031 target.

5

Pueblo County land-use decision slows the Colorado segment

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Pueblo Star Journal reporting on the county review

Pueblo County is reviewing the route while property owners raise concerns, and authorization there does not cover other permits along the corridor. The developer's schedule already has engineering and permitting running through 2027, so a slow county decision could push construction.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2009-2016

Tres Amigas SuperStation (2009-2016)

A proposed 5-gigawatt hub in Clovis, New Mexico, that would have connected all three U.S. interconnections. It was announced with fanfare in 2009 but never secured the funding or regulatory approvals to be built.

Then

The project stalled and was eventually abandoned.

Now

It showed how difficult interconnecting the U.S. grids is, both technically and financially.

Why this matters now

Three Corners Connector faces the same challenge of linking the eastern and western grids, but with a more focused scope: a single point-to-point line rather than a multi-hub superstation.

1970

Pacific DC Intertie (1970)

The first major high-voltage direct current line in the U.S., running about 846 miles from the Columbia River in Oregon to Sylmar, California. It was built to move cheap hydroelectric power from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California.

Then

The line began operating in 1970 and was later upgraded from 1,440 to 3,100 megawatts.

Now

It has operated for over five decades and remains a critical link in the western grid.

Why this matters now

Shows the long-term value of HVDC infrastructure. Three Corners Connector would be a similar interregional link, but connecting the eastern and western grids rather than two points within the western grid.

Sources

(17)
+11
U.S. Department of Energy Business Wire via FinancialContent Utility Dive KTUL MarketMinute SPARK Grid Tracker News9 Three Corners Connector Kenyans Live (via Construction Review) Power Technology CiVL News KBJR/CBS3 via Business Wire Pueblo Star Journal Fox23 U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Department of Energy Three Corners Connector