TransWest Express LLC has selected Barnard Wilson Joint Venture to construct the TransWest Express Transmission Project line and substations.
The TWE Project is a high-voltage interregional transmission system with HVDC and HVAC technology segments that will add important new reach, reliability and renewable energy for the Western power grid. Barnard Wilson Joint Venture is a partnership between Barnard Construction Company Inc. and Wilson Construction Co. – both proven industry leaders with extensive experience in building transmission lines and electric system infrastructure across the Mountain West.
“Choosing the TWE Project’s primary construction partner is another major step forward for critical interregional transmission infrastructure that will truly connect the West,” said Bill Miller, chief executive officer for TransWest. “The Barnard Wilson Joint Venture team brings the best combination of expertise, innovation and ability to deliver complex projects, which assures the TWE Project will be built to meet our stringent technical and environmental standards.”
Under an agreement signed in June, BWJV is finalizing plans and preparations to be able to commence construction activities on the TWE Project before the end of the year.
TransWest and BWJV also are negotiating an EPC contract under which BWJV will engineer, procure and construct three primary components: the 525kV direct current (DC) transmission line from Wyoming to Utah (about 400 miles), the 500kV alternating current (AC) transmission line from Utah to Nevada (about 300 miles), and four AC substations in Wyoming, Utah and Nevada.
These components will provide important new bulk transmission capacity and connectivity with the PacifiCorp system in Wyoming, with the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and Intermountain Power systems in Utah, with the NV Energy system in Nevada, and with the California Independent System Operator. The future vision is that the California ISO will operate the TWE Project as part of its long-distance, high-voltage transmission network.
“We’re excited to partner with TransWest, an organization we deeply respect and admire, to deliver this critical infrastructure project. This is more than a project for BWJV – it’s an opportunity to transform the power portfolio in the Western U.S. while expanding employment opportunities and economic development in the region,” said Tim Barnard, chairman for Barnard.
“BWJV brings together the top experts in design, construction and environmental services who understand the unique challenges of large-scale transmission line projects in the West. We’ve spent several years studying and planning for this project, and we’re ready to work with TransWest and the local labor unions and communities to make this project a success,” said Don Wilson, chief executive officer for Wilson.
“BWJV’s outstanding experience is matched by their strong values, which perfectly align with TransWest’s: a commitment to quality, environmental protection, safety excellence, respect for local communities, and partnerships,” said Roxane Perruso, chief operating officer for TransWest. “This team is prepared and ready to start meeting TWE Project construction milestones and objectives.”
In April 2023, the Bureau of Land Management issued its Notice to Proceed for the TWE Project, the final federal authorization needed to start construction. In December 2022, TransWest signed a Preferred Supplier Agreement with Siemens Energy Inc. for the TWE Project’s HVDC converter stations in Wyoming and Utah; negotiations on a definitive EPC contract are underway. TransWest has partnership agreements in place with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the International Union of Operating Engineers.
The TWE Project will be the Western power grid’s largest transmission addition in decades. It will connect three planning regions, while adding 3,000 MW of transmission capacity. The project also will provide the West with new access to wind-generated electricity from Wyoming, home of America’s best onshore wind resources. The first stage of the TWE Project is expected to be energized in 2027.
