Clean Line Energy Partners says its Plains & Eastern Clean Line subsidiary has signed an agreement with Sediver to source components for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project from a new manufacturing facility and testing laboratory in West Memphis, Ark.
The agreement designates Sediver as the preferred supplier of glass insulators for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line, an approximately 700-mile direct-current transmission line that will deliver energy from the Oklahoma Panhandle region to customers in Arkansas, Tennessee, and other states in the Mid-South and Southeast.
Sediver manufactures insulation for overhead transmission and distribution lines for utility customers. According to Clean Line, Sediver's toughened glass insulator technology ensures the best reliability for direct-current transmission line projects. Additionally, Sediver committed to manufacturing the insulators in Arkansas.
‘We are thrilled that, at our request, Sediver is opening a manufacturing plant in Arkansas and will be supplying the insulators for our Plains & Eastern Clean Line,’ explains Michael Skelly, president of Clean Line. ‘This agreement furthers our commitment to purchase as many of the needed materials and services as possible from local companies in the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project area.’
Sediver's decision to return operations to the U.S. and open a manufacturing plant in Arkansas was bolstered by the opportunities from the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project. Sediver has maintained significant market share in the U.S. with a sustained double-digit growth over the last five years. The company selected West Memphis for its logistical advantage and Arkansas' work force.
In addition to signing the agreement with Sediver, Clean Line has an agreement in place with General Cable to manufacture the conductor for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line at General Cable's Malvern, Ark. plant.
The new facility will create over 70 jobs for Arkansans when we begin operations in late 2016. The Plains & Eastern Clean Line is currently under development and, based on current estimates, is expected to begin construction as early as 2016.
