Agency Milestone Date of 02/02/2026 for Issuance of Decision (Agency Action) has passed by 1 business days
Cooperating under NEPA
Description:
USACE reviews requests to alter USACE civil works projects pursuant to 33 USC 408. The proposed GBX project crosses three USACE civil work projects: Wilson Lake flowage easements, Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project, and a federal levee R443-448; therefore requiring a Section 408 permission.
Milestones:
Additional Milestones:
This application is specific to the Missouri River crossing.
This completeness determination is specific to the Missouri River crossing application.
PROJECT WEBSITE: Grain Belt Express
All dates below are specific to the schedule of the Environmental Review and Permitting processes for this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING STATUS
IN PROGRESS
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING
04/02/2026
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING PROCESSES
COMPLETED
SECTOR
Electricity Transmission
CATEGORY
Project Category
FAST-41 Covered Projects
LEAD AGENCY
Department of Energy, Loan Programs Office
View FAST-41 Postings by Agencies
Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Section 408
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory
Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Civil Works
Description:
Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express (Project), a bi-directional high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line spanning approximately 542 miles across Kansas and Missouri, will facilitate the delivery of domestically produced renewable energy generation to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Associated Electric Cooperative Incorporated (AECI) territories in the Midwest.
The Project consists of a 542-mile 600-kV HVDC overhead electric transmission line (HVDC Line), HVDC converter station sites, and AC transmission facilities that together will interconnect to existing power grids that are managed by Southwest Power Pool (SPP), MISO, and AECI.
Update (8/25/2025): In coordination with Grain Belt Express LLC, an applicant before the Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LPO), LPO requested a pause in all milestones and associated deadlines in the FAST-41 permitting timetable for Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express Transmission Project (Project) for a period of 45 days, through October 8, 2025, subject to further extension. This pause of the permitting timetable for the Project was necessary because on July 23, 2025, the DOE terminated its conditional commitment for a loan guarantee for the Project. The requested pause was also necessary to provide Grain Belt Express LLC the time needed to establish permitting strategies related to the further advancement of the Project.
Update (10/01/2025): In coordination with Grain Belt Express LLC, an applicant before the Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LPO) requested a continuation of the pause in all milestones and associated deadlines in the FAST-41 permitting timetable for Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express Transmission Project (Project) for a period of 45 days, through November 22, 2025, subject to further extension. This continuation of the pause of the permitting timetable for the Project was necessary because on July 23, 2025, the DOE terminated its conditional commitment for a loan guarantee for the Project, and to provide Grain Belt Express LLC the time needed to establish permitting strategies related to further advancement of the Project.
Update (11/14/2025): In coordination with Grain Belt Express LLC, an applicant before the Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LPO), LPO requested a continuation of the pause in all milestones and associated deadlines in the FAST-41 permitting timetable for Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express Transmission Project (Project) for a period of 90 days, through February 20, 2026, subject to further extension. This continuation of the pause of the permitting timetable for the Project was necessary because on July 23, 2025, the DOE terminated its conditional commitment for a loan guarantee for the Project, and to provide Grain Belt Express LLC the time needed to establish permitting strategies related to further advancement of the Project.
Update (2/20/2026): On January 22, 2026, the project sponsor requested this project move from paused to in-progress status for federal authorizations and reviews. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will serve as the lead federal agency for FAST-41. Posting of an updated timetable will occur on or before April 21, 2026.