Why Iowa
Need for more transmission
Siting opportunity
Challenges
Siting prohibition
Our Work
NextGen Highways engages the Iowa DOT, state legislators, transmission developers, and other relevant stakeholders to achieve the following goals:
- Remove barriers to siting transmission in highway rights-of-way through changes to Iowa DOT policy
- Remove barriers to siting transmission in highway rights-of-way through state legislation
- Foster coordination among the Iowa DOT, transmission developers, and the Iowa Utilities Commission
Legislative Work
In 2025, Representative Devon Wood and Representative Shannon Latham introduced House File 736 to direct the Iowa DOT to allow transmission in highway rights-of-way and remove cost barriers to siting transmission in highway rights-of-way.
The map illustrates plans by MISO, the region’s grid operator, to develop transmission in Iowa under its Joint Transmission Interconnection Queue (JTIQ) framework and Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 2. Routes are preliminary and expected to be sited in 2025. If allowed, portions of projects could be sited in interstate rights-of-way.