OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Southwest Power Pool's board of directors has approved $1.7 billion worth of transmission projects, including $300 million in new power lines for Oklahoma's power grid.

High voltage lines will be built between Woodward and Yukon and from Ardmore to Elk City. The projects are meant to maintain reliable supplies of electricity in power pool's nine state region.

The organization's vice president of engineer, Lanny Nickell, told The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/zs2cFY) that adding more lanes to the transmission highway will improve the pool's ability to provide the least-cost power to consumers and strengthen grid reliability so power is there when it's needed.

The Oklahoma projects include 230 miles of transmission lines, construction of a new Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. substation and upgrades to a Public Service Co. of Oklahoma substation.