Copperton Projects

As an independent, non-profit Regional Transmission Organization (RTO), the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) acts as an “air traffic controller” for the regional grid with the mission of working collaboratively with electricity stakeholders across 15 US states and Manitoba. Forty-five million people depend on MISO to generate and transmit the right amount of electricity every minute of every day – reliably, dependably and cost-effectively.

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) initiated a collaborative and innovative effort, known as Long Range Transmission Planning (LRTP), to provide a roadmap for future transmission investment across the MISO region.

MISO’s LRTP is a group of four planned phases, or tranches, with Tranche 2.1 representing a $21.8 billion investment of 24 transmission projects in MISO’s Midwest Subregion and includes projects in Michigan. Overall, the LRTP projects are the largest portfolio of long-range transmission projects in RTO history, providing a roadmap for future transmission investment across the MISO footprint.

The interactive map displays  a network of potential route segments currently under consideration for the Copperton Projects. These route segments represent potential pathways that may be combined, refined, or eliminated as the routing process continues.  

Feedback received during the Community Listening Sessions, along with ongoing engineering, environmental, and field evaluations, will help inform the refinement of route segments and the development of potential route options. Because the Projects are in the early stages of development, the route networks, route segments, and proposed substation locations shown on the map are preliminary and subject to change. No final routes have been selected and the route segments shown on the map have not been submitted to or approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Community Listening Sessions are the second phase of ITC’s four-phase approach to community outreach. ITC invites members of the public, landowners and other interested stakeholders to learn more about the Projects and provide feedback on the route segment network to help inform the routing process.

1. Local Leaders Listening Sessions, March 2026: ITC hosted 22 meetings with community leaders, local officials and other stakeholders to meet with ITC in the early stages of routing.
2. Community Listening Sessions, October 2026: Letters were mailed to landowners whose properties are on a route segment and within one mile of any of the potential route segment. Information gained from the Community Listening Sessions will help ITC and  its routing consultant develop route options for the next phase of outreach and will be incorporated into the route study.
   a. Three transmission lines will ultimately be constructed, with one line connecting the Copperton substation to each of the following substations: Nelson Road, Ludington, Tittabawassee. The current map depicts a network of potential route  segments being evaluated as part of the early planning process. During this early portion of the project, please note that the route networks, all route segments, and proposed substation location are preliminary and subject to change. These routes or segments have not yet been submitted to or approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
3. Landowner Open Houses, Spring 2027: ITC will share potential route options, and invite landowners to attend and provide feedback.
4. Public Meetings, Fall 2027: Public Meetings will be held to share the proposed and alternate routes and receive public comment. After the Public Meetings, we will seek siting authority to construct the project, and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) will review and approve a final route. The MPSC will have one year to review the application.