Wind turbines stretch to the horizon at the Oklahoma Wind Energy Center north of Woodward. [AP File Photo]

An electricity transmission line that will ship renewable energy directly from Oklahoma's panhandle to utilities in the southeastern United States cleared a key regulatory hurdle Friday as the federal Energy Department announced its participation in the project.

The 700-mile Plains and Eastern Clean Line project will cross parts of 14 Oklahoma counties before going through Arkansas and ending north of Memphis, Tenn. The privately funded, $2.5 billion project will deliver about 4,000 megawatts of renewable energy.

"Moving remote and plentiful power to areas where electricity is in high demand is essential for building the grid of the future," Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said in a statement. "Building modern transmission that delivers renewable energy to more homes and businesses will create jobs, cut carbon emissions and enhance the reliability of our grid."

Michael Skelly, president of Clean Line Energy Partners, said the Plains and Eastern Clean Line will deliver enough renewable energy to power more than 1 million homes. The energy output represents four times the electricity produced by the Hoover Dam.