Kansas Ranchers Fight Evergy's Proposed Transmission Line

Landowners oppose the 155-mile project that would cut through historic Tallgrass Prairie region

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:27pm

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A minimalist studio still life featuring a collection of sleek, polished metal and wood objects arranged in a clean, elegant composition, symbolizing the abstract themes of energy infrastructure, land rights, and environmental conservation.A clash between energy development and environmental preservation plays out in the Kansas Tallgrass Prairie.Kansas Today

Ranchers and farmers in southern Kansas are fighting against a proposed 155-mile transmission line project by Evergy that would span from just outside Wichita to Southwest Missouri and enter into Oklahoma for about 20 miles. The $1 billion project is intended to improve grid reliability and reduce congestion, but local landowners argue it would destroy the heritage and landscape of the Heartland Tallgrass Prairie region.

Why it matters

The proposed transmission line would cut through a historically and ecologically significant area of Kansas that was previously protected from wind farm development. Ranchers and farmers in the region are concerned about the project's impact on their land, livelihoods, and the unique natural heritage of the Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem.

The details

Evergy's Branson 345 kV overlay project consists of three parts totaling nearly $1 billion. The first part, a 155-mile line from the Buffalo Flats substation in Kansas to Delaware, Oklahoma, is estimated to cost $484 million. Evergy has asked the Kansas Corporation Commission for approval of the route, which would allow construction to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2029. While Evergy says the line would improve grid reliability and reduce congestion, local landowners argue it would destroy the heritage and landscape of the Heartland Tallgrass Prairie region.

  • Evergy asked the Kansas Corporation Commission for approval of the route in 2026.
  • If approved, construction on the 155-mile line would begin in 2027 and be completed by 2029.

The players

Evergy

A utility company that has proposed the 155-mile transmission line project spanning from Kansas to Oklahoma.

Kevin McFarland

The owner of the historical Magnolia Ranch, a 3,500-acre property in the Heartland Tallgrass Prairie that would be affected by the proposed transmission line.

Robert Taylor

A neighboring rancher and farmer who opposes the project, arguing that Evergy is only offering a one-time payment rather than annual compensation.

Governor Laura Kelly

The governor of Kansas who issued a 2020 proclamation to protect the Tallgrass Prairie region from wind farm development.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, this is the history of Kansas and the history of the United States here. It takes a lot of work, but it's an amazing piece of history.”

— Kevin McFarland, Magnolia Ranch Owner

“Even if they were to pay me $100,000 a year, I still don't want it on my property. The governor and the KCC need to stand up to the Southwest Power Pool and energy companies— stand up to them and stand up for the landowners and the Tallgrass Prairie.”

— Robert Taylor, Neighboring Rancher and Farmer

“This is the first of many. This won't be the last time this will be used. I think the state of Kansas needs to wake up and realize what's happening and protect what we have.”

— Kevin McFarland, Magnolia Ranch Owner

What’s next

The Kansas Corporation Commission must make a decision on Evergy's request by May 13, 2026.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the tension between the need for grid modernization and the preservation of ecologically and historically significant landscapes in Kansas. The outcome could set a precedent for how the state balances energy infrastructure development and environmental protection going forward.