www.ameren.com

Illinois Valley Reliability Project

Ameren Transmission is proposing the Illinois Valley Reliability Project to improve energy reliability for communities in Bureau and LaSalle counties. The Project includes constructing a new, approximately 23-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line, upgrading the existing Princeton substation, and building a new switching station called Lima located near Peru. The new transmission line will connect the Princeton substation to the new Lima switching station.
 

The Illinois Valley Reliability Project will improve energy reliability and resiliency for local homes and businesses, upgrade existing infrastructure, and support long-term economic growth in the region. Our goal is to have the Project in service and providing benefits to local communities in late 2029.

Project Benefits

  • Improve energy reliability and resiliency.
  • Upgrade existing infrastructure and build a new switching station.
  • Support local economic growth in LaSalle and Bureau counties.

 

Public and Stakeholder Involvement

Ameren Transmission will undertake a robust stakeholder and community engagement process as we prepare to apply for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Community leaders and members of the public are encouraged to get involved in several ways throughout the routing process, including attending in-person open houses, viewing virtual open houses, and filling out comment forms at meetings and online on the interactive map.


Open Houses - Please Join Us

We will hold three rounds of in-person and virtual public open houses to introduce the study area, potential route segments, and the project needs and benefits. During the in-person open houses, subject matter experts from different departments of Ameren (such as engineering, real estate, siting, environmental, safety and construction) will be available to answer questions about the Project and collect public feedback. This feedback will be carefully considered by our siting team as they work to design a constructible route for the line.

The first round of open houses were held on August 5 in Princeton and on August 6 in Peru to present the Potential Route Segments.

The second round of open houses will be held on September 22 and 23. Both days will include the same information, with no formal presentation. A virtual open house slide deck will be available online for viewing from September 19 to October 3, 2025. Input collected on the Preliminary Route Alternatives shown during the September open houses will be factored into identifying Preferred Route Alternatives in the study area. An interactive map will be available for feedback and comments from September 19 to October 3, 2025. 

The final round of open houses will be held in November 2025.

Schedule

Second Round of Open Houses

In-Person
Monday, September 22 
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. & 5 - 7 p.m. 

Peru City Hall 
1901 4th St.
Peru, IL 61354

In-Person
Tuesday, September 23
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. & 5 - 7 p.m. 

Bureau County Metro Center
837 Park Ave. West
Princeton, IL 61356

Virtual Open House

Coming Soon
September 19 - October 3
 
 

Online Map

Comments for Open House - Round Two
The link is available for feedback and comments from Sept. 19 - Oct. 3, 2025

View Map

Frequently Asked Questions

The Illinois Valley Reliability Project includes constructing a new, approximately 23-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line, upgrading the existing Princeton substation, and building a new switching station called Lima located near Peru. The new transmission line will connect the Princeton substation to the new Lima switching station.
The Illinois Valley Reliability Project will improve energy reliability and resiliency for local homes and businesses, upgrade existing infrastructure, and support long-term economic growth in the region.

The entire Project is expected to be complete by the end of 2029. Ameren is currently in the public outreach phase of the Project. There will be ongoing outreach with stakeholders, landowners and residents, businesses and other community members before, during and after construction.

Project Timeline

  • 2025: Gather public and agency input; route siting studies; final routes identified
  • 2026: File routes with ICC; CPCN decision; easement acquisition
  • 2027: Environmental surveys and permitting; easement acquisition; Lima switching station completion
  • 2028: Environmental surveys and permitting; line construction
  • 2029: Line construction; Princeton substation completion; Project in service; restoration

*All items shown are pending regulatory approvals. Schedule is subject to change.

Ameren performed a detailed study of the energy system supplying the Bureau and LaSalle County areas. The study identified reliability concerns and the need for reinforcements to continue providing safe and reliable energy to our customers. Multiple options were evaluated, and Ameren ultimately selected a plan to construct a new, approximately 23-mile, 138-kilovolt transmission line, upgrade the existing Princeton substation, and build a new switching station called Lima located near Peru, which will increase the resiliency of the local energy system. The Illinois Valley Reliability Project meets Ameren's reliability standards and provides the long-term capability to meet the energy demands of our local communities.

Involvement

The public process is meant to engage landowners and stakeholders so we can learn as much as we can about the study area within Bureau and LaSalle counties. During this process, stakeholders can learn about the needs and benefits of the Project, discuss questions or issues with our Project team, and provide input on sensitivities and opportunities to help our team improve the routing and siting process. We look forward to the public's input.

Developing a transmission route is a phased process that involves collaboration with agencies, community members and landowners to collect information that helps our team understand and identify opportunities and sensitivities within the Bureau and LaSalle Project area.

Our team started by using data from publicly available sources to create our Study Area. We considered existing utility corridors, existing land use, resource areas, natural environment data and field survey data to help minimize impacts while providing feasible route opportunities.

Open House Round 1
Next, our team uses data collected from stakeholders and federal, state and local agencies, as well as the four categories of routing criteria – Opportunities, Sensitivities, Technical Guidelines, and Statutory Requirements – to develop potential Route Segments that are shared with the public during our first round of open houses.

Open House Round 2
Our team then develops Preliminary Route Alternatives using the routing criteria, as well as input received from stakeholders and community members during our first round of public engagement and shares those routes with the public during our second round of open houses.

Open House Round 3
Using routing criteria and comments collected from the community during the second round of open houses, our team will narrow down the number of Preliminary Route Alternatives and identify Preferred Route Alternatives. We will share these routes during our third round of open houses.

File CPCN Application with ICC
After we collect data and input on the Preferred Route Alternatives, our team will select a “Primary Route” and an “Alternate Route” to present in the application to the ICC for a CPCN.

We start by identifying all affected communities as well as all other units of government such as school districts and soil and water conservation districts. We also identify other organizations that may have an interest in this Project, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office, and more. In addition, we can hold conference calls individually with community officials or organizations, when requested.
We appreciate your participation and encourage you to provide your comments. You can submit questions, leave a comment, provide input, or express concerns on the website or at any of the in-person and virtual open house events. We also have a dedicated Project hotline: 833.478.7733. If you leave a message, a Project representative will return your call. You can also send us an email at info@AmerenIllinoisValley.com.

Environmental

Ameren Transmission will coordinate with various environmental-related agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Audubon Society, EPA, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the State Historic Preservation Office and others. These agencies have been invited to attend our meetings. Ameren is committed to environmental management and sustainability. Learn more at Ameren.com/Biodiversity.
Ameren Transmission uses an avian-safe structure design and flight diverters where necessary as part of our corporate Avian Protection Plan to minimize impacts to migratory birds.
As a part of Ameren’s evaluation of potential routes, the minimization of environmental impacts, including those to threatened and endangered species, is a priority. Ameren will prioritize route options that avoid or minimize impacts to threatened and endangered species.

Contact Us

We have a designated Project hotline and email address the public can use to get in touch with members of our Project team. Have a question? Please contact us using one of the methods below.

Phone

833.478.7733

Email

info@amerenillinoisvalley.com

Mail

Ameren Illinois Pioneer Park Operating Center
Attn: Illinois Valley Reliability Project
8420 N. University Street
Peoria, IL 61615

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