By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

The Kansas Corporation Commission will conduct a two-phase hearing this month in La Crosse to seek comment on the construction of a 345,000-volt powerline from Spearville to Hays.

The line would pass through the center of Rush and Ellis counties. The hearing is set for 7 p.m. May 14 in the La Crosse City Auditorium. Generally speaking, the line would run parallel to U.S. Highway 183, but about 7 miles west.

The proposed line, to be constructed by ITC Great Plains, received the blessing of the Southwest Power Pool -- the traffic cop for electricity -- on Wednesday.

It still must pass muster with the KCC, whose decision must be made by July 13.

This month's hearing will be conducted in two phases, the first a question-and-answer session that will allow landowners the opportunity to ask ITC personnel questions about the line.

Soon after, the KCC will take formal comments from those attending.

The line would be constructed in two phases as well. The first, 89 miles long, would stretch from Spearville to a substation located just northwest of Hays. The cost would about $90 million.

The second phase of the project would extend the line from Hays to Axtell, Neb.

Developers said the line would provide access to wind power generation, and ease congestion between Kansas and Nebraska. It also could allow less expensive power to flow into Kansas.

This isn't the first time the powerline has been subject of conversation in La Crosse's auditorium.

In December, ITC conducted an open house for area residents, giving them a chance to look at tentative plans for the line and to make comments.

The proposed route of the line was changed slightly as a result of that meeting, according to Kimberly Svaty, a spokeswoman for ITC Great Plains.

It was at that December meeting that Svaty said the line actually might carry as much as 765,000 volts of electricity.

While that won't happen, it's still possible the line would be built in a way so it can be upgraded to the higher level.

In its application with the KCC, ITC reported it would use wood or steel H-frame towers to carry the lines.

If the project is approved, Svaty said ITC will start the process of obtaining rights-of-way to build the line.

"It takes about a year to acquire rights of way," she said.

As a result, construction could start in early 2010, with the line being energized by 2011.

The second phase of the project might start with a similar KCC filing in early 2010, with construction completed in April 2012, if all goes well.

Because the line would go into Nebraska, Svaty said, that schedule is tentative.