The Missouri Public Service Commission has given its go-ahead to a utility’s plans to construct a new substation and reconfigure another in Cooper County, but with conditions.

The PSC announced Wednesday, April 30 it would approve certificates of convenience and necessity to Ameren Missouri to construct a new substation near their current pair of substations near the intersection of Routes 179 and V southeast of Boonville. The Commission agreed with Ameren that the new Cooper Substation is necessary because of outage and congestion cost constraints at their current Overton Substation, which is split in two on either side of Route 179. Ameren plans to build a replacement 161 kilovolt substation to the southwest of the smaller Overton substation, along with the necessary transmission lines to and from it, while retaining both the larger substation north of the highway and some equipment at the smaller location.

The new Cooper Substation will sit behind four homes along Route V. Last month the landowners withdrew their request to intervene in the case, saying they no longer had an objection to Ameren’s plans. As part of the PSC’s approval, Ameren is expected to protect the property of nearby landowners, including advance notice of acquisition of and access to right-of-way, the ability of landowners to contact Ameren’s construction supervisor on-site, and the cutting and stacking of logs for use by the landowner. Ameren has also received instruction from the PSC on cutting tree stumps, reseeding grass, and best management practices for avoiding erosion, along with other future maintenance requirements.