NOVI — A proposed high-voltage transmission line stretching from Oneida in Eaton County to a new Sabine Lake substation in Livingston County is emerging as one of the most significant energy infrastructure projects Michigan has seen in years — not because of its size alone, but because of what it represents about the future of the electric grid.

The 50-mile, 345-kilovolt line, proposed by ITC Michigan, is part of a much larger, multi-state effort to rebuild and expand the Midwest’s transmission network as electricity demand rises and power generation shifts. While the project will physically run through Michigan communities, its origins — and much of its cost — lie beyond the state’s borders.

At stake is hundreds of millions of dollars in regional grid investment, years of regulatory review, and long-term impacts for landowners, farmers, and ratepayers. ITC Michigan hosted a press conference Dec. 18 to discuss the project.

ITC Michigan President Chuck Marshall said it was too early in the process to provide a total cost estimate. But in a federal document called  Tranche 2.1 Dashboard732078.pdf the overall cost was estimated at $600 million.

Why the line is being built

The Oneida–Sabine Lake project is included in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) Long-Range Transmission Plan, Tranche 2.1, approved by MISO’s board in December 2024.

MISO, which oversees grid planning across 15 states, concluded the new line is needed to:

  • Improve grid reliability

  • Reduce congestion on existing transmission paths

  • Support long-term growth in electricity demand

  • Accommodate changes in generation, including large industrial loads

Once a project is approved by MISO as a regional transmission line, state regulators are largely bound to accommodate it.

That distinction matters.

“The need for the line is already settled at the regional level,” one energy analyst familiar with MISO planning said. “The remaining debate is about routing, mitigation, and cost recovery — not whether the line should exist.”

Where the line could go

ITC is currently in the routing study phase, working with engineering firm Burns & McDonnell to examine multiple possible corridors between Oneida and the planned Sabine Lake substation.

The study area spans parts of:

  • Eaton County

  • Clinton County

  • Ingham County

  • Shiawassee County

  • Livingston County

No final route has been selected.

To gather input before narrowing options, ITC has scheduled community listening sessions in January and February 2026, when residents will be able to review preliminary maps, ask questions, and flag local concerns such as:

  • Agricultural impacts

  • Proximity to homes and schools

  • Environmental features

  • Existing utility corridors

  • These sessions are informal but critical.

    “This is the stage where community feedback can still influence routing decisions,” ITC has said in public materials. “Once a preferred route is selected, flexibility decreases.”

What residents should watch next

For communities along the corridor, the most important window is now through early 2026.

That is when:

  • Routes are preliminary and subject to change

  • Local constraints can be flagged

  • Adjustments are most feasible

Once the project enters formal regulatory review, the debate shifts from where the line should go to how impacts will be managed.

ITC To Host Community Listening Sessions

In early 2026, community listening sessions will be held near the potential routes.

Monday, January 26 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Okemos Event Center
2nd Floor Ballroom
2187 University Park Dr. Okemos, MI 48864

Tuesday, January 27 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Okemos Event Center
2nd Floor Ballroom
2187 University Park Dr. Okemos, MI 48864

Wednesday, January 28 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Lansing Community College
West Campus Showroom M119-122
5708 Cornerstone Dr. Lansing, MI 48917

Thursday, January 29 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Hidden Gem Event Center
4230 Charlar Dr.
Holt, MI 48842

Tuesday, February 3 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Brookshire Golf Course Clubhouse
205 W. Church St.
Williamston, MI 48895

Wednesday, February 4 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Conway Township Hall
8015 N. Fowlerville Rd.
Fowlerville, MI 48836

Thursday, February 5 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Fowlerville High School Cafeteria
700 N Grand St.
Fowlerville, MI 48836

The Regulatory Process Ahead

After refining its preferred route, ITC is expected to file a formal siting application under Michigan’s Public Act 30 of 1995 with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), likely in late 2026 or 2027.

However, the scope of that review is limited.

Under Act 30, regulators evaluate whether:

  • ITC followed proper routing procedures

  • Environmental and agricultural impacts were minimized

  • Reasonable alternatives were adequately considered

They do not revisit MISO’s determination that the line is needed.

If approved, construction could begin following easement negotiations and final engineering.

Who pays — and how it shows up on bills

Because the project is classified as a regional transmission line, its costs are shared across multiple states in the MISO footprint.

That means:

  • Michigan ratepayers do not pay the full cost

  • ITC recovers costs through transmission rates approved by the FERC

  • Charges appear on electric bills as transmission costs, not generation costs

The trade-off is long-term.

Transmission investments are typically recovered over decades, meaning customers pay smaller amounts over a longer period.

Bottom line

The Oneida–Sabine Lake transmission line is not a standalone project — it is part of a sweeping, regional rebuild of the electric grid that Michigan regulators are legally required to accommodate.

For residents, landowners, and local officials, the question is no longer whether the line will be built, but how much influence they can exert before decisions are locked in.

To look at an interactive map of proposed routes, click on ITC Michigan