Typically when there's a new transmission topic, the media will show a huge steel line and make it look like a a forest of steel. But getting even modest upgrades is difficult. There's been no expansion of transmission lines in North Dakota in the past ten years. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, a proposed power line running from north of Duluth to Wausau has prompted concern over environmental and human health effects. There are other problems with wind power.
Power is only available when the wind blows.
That doesn't always coincide with when the power is needed, and there is no way to store it. These issues hamper development of rural wind power like the Griggs-Steele project. Ed Weber, manager of transmission planning for the Western Area Power Administration, says he doesn't see that problem being addressed. It is unlikely the power transmission grid will be changed to expand capacity. But as the capacity for power transmission shrinks, people's appetite for electricity grows.