Planned Transmission Upgrades

7 upgrades within 20 mi — Tier 1
Criteria: Count planned transmission upgrades within 20 mi. Tier 1 ≥3 upgrades; Tier 2 1-2; Fail 0. Classify by voltage (69/138/230/345/500+ kV) and horizon (near 2025-2029, mid 2030-2032, long 2033+).
Source: Planned Transmission Upgrades
Site Assessment
Tier 1 7 upgrades
4 major (≥345 kV) · All near-term (2025-2029)
Nearest Upgrade
3.5 mi
Upgrade San Diego - Orange Grove SW · 69 kV
Capacity Impact (Est.)
2,230-6,680 MW
Cumulative across all 7 projects
Voltage Distribution
138 kV: 2 345 kV: 4 69 kV: 1
Horizon
Near (2025-2029): 7

Summary

Planned Transmission Upgrades (20-mile radius)

Project Name Voltage Status Year Horizon Route Distance Capacity (MW) Major
Upgrade San Diego - Orange Grove SW 69 kV Planned 2029 Near (2025-2029) San Diego → Orange 3.5 mi 30-80
Rebuild/reconductor Ckt.89A West Columbia to Damon and 138 kV Planned 2028 Near (2025-2029) West Columbia → Needville 16.4 mi 100-300
West Columbia to Damon and Needville to Big Creek Ckt.8 138 kV Planned 2027 Near (2025-2029) West Columbia → Damon 16.4 mi 100-300
Facility Ratings Methodology Phase 2 (FRM2) Upgrades 345 kV Planned 2026 Near (2025-2029) STP → Hillje 17.0 mi 500-1500 MAJOR
Facility Ratings Methodology Phase 2 (FRM2) Upgrades 345 kV Planned 2029 Near (2025-2029) STP → Hillje 17.0 mi 500-1500 MAJOR
Charger Solar Interconnection 345 kV Under Construction 2025 Near (2025-2029) Angstrom → STP 17.5 mi 500-1500 MAJOR
Angstrom to STP: Increase 345 kV Line MOT 345 kV Planned 2025 Near (2025-2029) Angstrom → STP 17.5 mi 500-1500 MAJOR

Analysis

The the site benefits from significant planned transmission investment within a 20-mile radius. 7 ERCOT-planned transmission upgrade projects are underway or planned, including 4 major projects operating at 345 kV. All projects fall within the near-term horizon (2025-2029), reflecting active grid investment driven by growing load demand in the Coastal Bend region of Texas.

The nearest upgrade, Upgrade San Diego - Orange Grove SW, is a 69 kV project just 3.5 miles from the site. The 345 kV projects near STP (South Texas Project) include Facility Ratings Methodology Phase 2 (FRM2) upgrades and the Charger Solar Interconnection, both indicating significant capacity additions to the high-voltage backbone serving this area. The estimated cumulative capacity impact across all 7 projects ranges from 2,230 to 6,680 MW.

This level of planned grid investment is strongly favorable for data center or industrial load siting, as it signals both near-term capacity expansion and long-term grid reliability improvements in the region.

Next Steps

Sources