ITC Michigan will host a series of open-house community listening sessions in October on its proposed Copperton Projects, a plan to add about 254 miles of 345-kilovolt transmission lines in central and western Michigan.

The sessions, each scheduled from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. between Oct. 5 and Oct. 22, will let residents review preliminary route options, ask questions and comment on routing, design and construction.

“Our goal is to listen early and often to ensure community feedback plays a meaningful role as the projects move forward,” said Jim Tedder, regional manager for ITC Michigan. “We are in the early stages of route planning, and we invite residents to attend the community listening sessions to learn more, ask questions and share input on the route segment networks.”

ITC, through subsidiary Michigan Electric Transmission Co., plans three double-circuit 345-kV lines centered on the Copperton substation, an upgraded Salt River facility near Coleman in Midland County:

• About 159 miles from the Ludington substation in Mason County to Copperton.
• About 55 miles from the Nelson Road substation in Gratiot County to Copperton.
• About 40 miles from the Tittabawassee substation near Midland to Copperton.

No final routes have been selected.

The work is part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s Long-Range Transmission Plan Tranche 2.1, a 24-project Midwest portfolio estimated at $21.8 billion and approved by MISO’s board in December 2024. Officials say the lines are intended to improve reliability, resiliency and grid capacity.Listening sessions (noon-7 p.m.)

• Monday, Oct. 5: Doig Conference Center, 1200 Wright Ave., Alma
• Tuesday, Oct. 6: Great Hall Banquet and Convention Center, 5121 Bay City Road, Midland
• Wednesday, Oct. 7: Whitefish Lake Golf Club, 2241 Bass Lake Road, Pierson
• Thursday, Oct. 8: Holiday Inn Conference Center, 5278 E. Pickard St., Mount Pleasant
• Monday, Oct. 12: Doherty Hotel, 604 N. McEwan St., Clare
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: Osceola County Fairgrounds Community Building, 101 Recreation Ave., Evart
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Idlewild Historic and Cultural Center, 7025 S. Broadway St., Idlewild
• Thursday, Oct. 15: The Peaks Event Center, 11515 Northland Drive, Big Rapids
• Monday, Oct. 19: Hope Hall, 601 N. Evergreen Drive, White Cloud
• Tuesday, Oct. 20: Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts, 4734 S. Campus Court, Fremont
• Wednesday, Oct. 21: Graystone Event Center, 4079 W. U.S. 10, Ludington
• Thursday, Oct. 22: Earl and Linda Peterson MSU Research Station, 5185 N. Oceana Drive, Hart

For more in depth information and details on the Copperton projects, visit here: https://www.mifuturegrid.com/copperton-projects/.