U.S. Sen Josh Hawley claims Grain Belt Express is dead after discussion with Trump

Phase 1 is slated to begin in 2026.

PUBLISHED 15 HOURS AGO

Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express will span approximately 542 miles across Kansas and Missouri.

WASHINGTON D.C.: U.S. Senator Josh Hawley announced on Thursday he's secured a pledge from the Trump administration to put a stop to the controversial Grain Belt Express project.

The energy transmission project's plan is to carry wind energy from Kansas through Missouri, Illinois, and into Indiana, delivering up to 5,000 megawatts of power—roughly equivalent to four nuclear plants.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched a civil investigation into the project just last week, accusing the company of misleading the public and misrepresenting the benefits of the project.

A release from Hawley's office on Thursday called the project "an elitist land grab harming Missouri farmers and ranchers."

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Hawley said he spoke with President Donald Trump and Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Thursday, and that Wright said he'd be putting a stop to the project.

Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express will span approximately 542 miles across Kansas and Missouri, featuring converter stations, AC/DC connectors, and a “Tiger Connector” spur in Missouri

With a $7 billion–$11 billion investment, the project is expected to generate over 22,000 construction jobs, $52 billion in energy cost savings nationally over 15 years, and approximately $12‑13 billion in savings for Missouri and Illinois.

The energy transmission project's plan is to carry wind energy from Kansas through Missouri, Illinois, and into Indiana.

The Kansas Corporation Commission approved the route and utility certificate in 2011 and 2013. Missouri granted a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for the HVDC line in 2019, updated in 2023 to boost Missouri delivery via the Tiger Connector. Illinois approved it in March 2023, while Indiana awaits its turn. In 2024, the U.S. DOE included the project under the FAST‑41 federal permitting process to streamline regulatory review .

Landowners in Missouri, however, have objected to eminent-domain use and potential farm disruptions. Despite these concerns, state regulators consistently upheld approvals.

Phase 1 is slated to begin in 2026, with contractor awards totaling $1.7 billion to Quanta and Kiewit.