Three Corners Connector Celebrates Selection for SPARK Award Negotiations to Support Grid Reliability and Resiliency in Oklahoma

GUYMON, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Three Corners Connector celebrated the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement of projects selected for potential funding under the Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK) program. The Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services applied for up to $250 million in federal funding under the SPARK program with Three Corners Connector as a subrecipient, to support the execution of the Three Corners Connector transmission line. DOE has selected this project to proceed with negotiations toward a final award.

Three Corners Connector is a 300-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interregional transmission line designed to connect the eastern and western electric grids with endpoints in Oklahoma and Colorado, more than doubling the existing 1,320-megawatt transfer capacity between the two grids. Three Corners Connector aligns with the SPARK program's goals by advancing critical infrastructure needed for greater grid interconnectivity and reliability.

Three Corners Connector was honored to host DOE Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit and Oklahoma’s then-Secretary of Energy and Environment Jeff Starling for a celebratory reception in Oklahoma City alongside industry and project supporters. Bringing together stakeholders involved throughout Three Corners Connector’s development, the event underscored the collective support and growing momentum behind interregional transmission.

“It’s not that we don’t have enough electricity in most areas. Most of the time we lack the transmission capabilities to go from one region where it’s being generated to another region where it’s needed,” said Under Secretary Haustveit during the event. “So the connectors that we’re investing in across the U.S. are ensuring that we have capacity to move the power and energy to where it’s needed.”

Pending successful negotiation and finalization of a formal financial assistance agreement, SPARK funding would primarily support engineering and materials for Three Corners Connector's transmission towers, a foundational element of the project's construction. The funding is intended to help lower overall project costs and accelerate Three Corners Connector’s anticipated benefits across the grid ecosystem – from utilities and grid operators seeking access to new markets, to consumers who could benefit from access to lower-cost, reliable power.

As growing demand increases pressure on transmission systems, interregional transmission can play an outsized role in strengthening resource availability and supporting grid operators’ reliability planning. With updated accreditation methods in place, HVDC transmission can give utilities and regulators additional options when planning for reliability while maximizing existing infrastructure capabilities. Three Corners Connector is expected to provide those benefits for power producers and consumers in Oklahoma and across the Southwest Power Pool and Western Electricity Coordinating Council electricity markets.

"The Great Plains is a cornerstone of the country's energy system, and connecting the eastern and western grids here strengthens reliability on both sides," said Bryant Coon, Senior Director of Development for Three Corners Connector. "Selection for SPARK funding helps Oklahoma and Three Corners Connector build toward a more resilient energy future, and we look forward to advancing the project alongside the stakeholders who have helped shape its development."

Three Corners Connector is progressing on regulatory filings, with final approvals expected in 2026. Construction is expected to commence after the project secures the remaining land rights and obtains the necessary regulatory approvals. Three Corners Connector could be operational as early as 2031.

About Three Corners Connector

Three Corners Connector is a 300-mile, up-to-525-kilovolt, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line connecting the U.S. eastern and western electric grids, with endpoints in Guymon, Oklahoma, and Pueblo, Colorado. Three Corners Connector will transport electrical power from all generation sources and bidirectionally move power along the line in response to demand. For more information, visit https://threecornersconnector.com/.

About Grid United

Grid United is an independent transmission company aiming to develop next-generation energy infrastructure to create a more resilient and efficient electric system to the benefit of all consumers. For more information, visit www.gridunited.com.