Projects

Xcel Energy proposes to string approximately 105-108 miles of new transmission line on existing double-circuit capable structures running from the existing Alexandria Substation in Alexandria, Minnesota to Becker, Minnesota, where new transmission lines would be needed to cross the Mississippi River and facilitate the new Big Oaks Substation.

The applicants propose to upgrade and construct approximately 29 miles of 115 kV transmission line in Swift County, Minnesota.

Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) is proposing to construct an approximately 3.5 mile 161 kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line and associated facilities on a new right-of-way in York Township in Fillmore County, Minnesota.
 

Wisconsin Power and Light Company is proposing to construct the Bent Tree North Wind Farm, an up to 153 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Freeborn, Waseca, and Steele County.
 

Benton Granite City Energy Storage, LLC (applicant), a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (NEER), filed a site permit application to construct and operate the Granite City BESS Project (project), an up to 300 megawatt (MW) BESS and associated facilities in the St. Cloud-Minden Township Orderly Annexation Area (OAA) in Benton County, Minnesota.

Benton Solar, LLC proposes to construct a 100 megawatt (MW) solar energy generating facility, a 100 MW battery energy storage system, and a 0.4 mile long, 115 kilovolt high voltage transmission line within Minden Township, Benton County, Minnesota.

Big Bend Wind, LLC has proposed the construction and operation of an 18 mile long 161 kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line (HVTL) to be located in Cottonwood, Martin, and Watonwan Counties, Minnesota. The proposed 161 kV HVTL is proposed to begin at the Big Bend Wind Project substation, and extend 18 miles to a proposed step-up substation to be located less than 1,500 feet of the Crandell Switching Station.

Big Bend Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of Apex Clean Energy, Inc., is proposing the Big Bend Wind Project located within portions of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota. The Big Bend Wind Project is proposing to constructed and operate 47 Nordex N-163 (5.7 MW), 48 Vestas V162 (5.6 MW), or 49 GE-158 (5.5 MW) turbines, which will have a total generation capability of up to 308 megawatts (MWs). \r\n\r\n

Big Bend Wind, LLC and Great River Energy propose to construct approximately 4.5 miles of 161 kV transmission line to connect the Big Bend wind project to the Great River Energy’s Lakefield Junction Station in Martin County, Minnesota.

The Applicants propose to construct over 90 miles of new transmission line from Big Stone South, South Dakota to Alexandria, Minnesota along portions of Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, Pope, and Douglas Counties. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Big Stone South and Alexandria. Both of the existing substations would also require minor expansions. A new fiber optic Regeneration Station would also be needed within the central segment of the project on 0.23 acres of land.
 

Birch Coulee Solar, LLC is proposing to construct an up to 125-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generating facility in Renville County, Minnesota.

Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, along with Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency propose to construct a new 345 kV transmission circuit on mostly existing transmission line structures from the existing Bison Substation near Fargo, North Dakota to the existing Alexandria Substation in Alexandria, Minnesota. The existing 345 kV structures were previously permitted and constructed as double-circuit capable as part of the Fargo – St. Cloud 345 kV Transmission Project.

Blazing Star 2 Wind Project is a 200 MW LWECS planned for construction in Lincoln County

Xcel Energy proposes to construct and operate a battery energy storage system with a nominal power rating of up to 135.5 megawatts (MW) alternating current with approximately 542 megawatt-hours of energy capacity on a site consisting of approximately 70 acres adjacent to Xcel Energy's existing Blue Lake Peaking Plant in the City of Shakopee, Scott County, Minnesota

Minnesota Power proposes to construct and operate an up to 85-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic (PV) solar energy generating facility and an associated 2.45 mile 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line (Gen-Tie Line) in Itasca County, Minnesota.

A 237-mile 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line and associated facilities running from Brookings County, South Dakota, to Hampton, Minnesota. The project began operation in 2015.
 

Byron Solar, LLC is proposing to build a 200 MW solar project in Dodge County Minnesota. The Byron Solar Project would connect to the electrical grid via approximately three to four and one-half miles of newly constructed 345 kV transmission line.

The project would replace existing natural gas burners with dual-fuel burners and install associated facilities to allow ULSD fuel oil combustion during periods of natural gas curtailment. The project is expected to protect GRE customers from extremely high energy prices.

Castle Rock Solar LLC proposes to construct and operate the Castle Rock BESS project, a battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated facilities in Castle Rock Township, Dakota County, Minnesota.

Castle Rock Solar, LLC is proposing to construct an up to 150-megawatt solar energy generating facility in Dakota County, Minnesota.
 

Great River Energy proposes to construct a new 6.3 mile long 115 kV transmission line in Rice County and Scott County.

Coneflower Energy, LLC, is proposing to construct a short 345 kV high voltage transmission line in Lyon County, Minnesota

Coneflower Energy, LLC is proposing to construct an up to 235-megawatt solar energy generating facility in Lyon County, Minnesota.

LSP CG Storage, LLC proposes to construct and operate the Cottage Grove BESS project, a battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated facilities Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota

Crane Energy Storage LLC and Sandhill Energy Storage LLC propose to construct and operate two 200 MW/800 MWh battery energy storage systems (BESS) and ancillary support infrastructure in Olmsted County, Minnesota.
 

Dodge County Wind proposes to construct approximately 27 miles of 161 kV transmission line in Dodge and Mower counties in Minnesota.

Dodge County Wind, LLC (DCW or applicant), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, proposes to construct and operate a 259-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Dodge and Steele Counties and an associated 161 kV transmission line in Dodge and Mower counties.

Dooley's Natural Gas II, LLC (Dooley's) is proposing to construct approximately 28 miles of 4-inch and 2-inch pipeline in Chippewa, Swift, and Kandiyohi Counties

On October 21, 2021, Minnesota Power (Applicant) submitted a Certificate of Need (CN) Application and a high voltage transmission line (HVTL) Route Permit Application (RPA) to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission). The RPA is submitted under the alternative review process (Minnesota Statute 216E.04; Minnesota Rule 7850.2800-3900).

On September 16, 2019, Geronimo Energy submitted a site permit application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) under the alternative review process (Minnesota Statute 216E.04; Minnesota Rule 7850.2800-3900). Geronimo Energy proposes to construct the Elk Creek Solar Project (Project), a solar energy conversion facility with an 80-megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity, in Vienna Township, Rock County, Minnesota.

Heartland Wind, LLC, LWECS Site Permit Application for a 150 MW Wind Farm in Jackson and Martin Counties

Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership has applied for a Pipeline Route Permit and Partial Exemption for the Fond du Lac Line 4 Project on the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation. The Project will relocate approximately 10 miles of the existing Line 4 pipeline from the center to the outer edge of the existing Enbridge Mainline Corridor within the Fond du Lac Band Reservation.

The Forks-Rost project will include construction of the new Forks Switching Station southwest of the City of Lakefield, in Jackson County, Minnesota, and a new, approximately 8.5 mile long, 161 kV high voltage transmission line. ITC indicates this project is needed to mitigate existing system low voltage issues and to help ensure long term area reliability when considering existing load and potential future area load growth.
 

Freeborn Wind Energy, LLC, an affiliate of Invenergy, LLC, has proposed to construct and operate the 200 MW Freeborn Wind Farm in Freeborn County, Minnesota and Worth County, Iowa

Gopher State Firm Power, LLC proposes to construct and operate a 200 megawatt (MW) energy storage facility and associated infrastructure, Kingman Township in Renville County, Minnesota

Gopher State Solar, LLC is proposing to construct a new 200 mW solar energy generating facility in Renville County, Minnesota.

A Certificate of Need Application has been filed by Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power Cooperative for the proposed Gopher to Badger Link Project. The Gopher to Badger Link Project would involve constructing two new 765-kV high-voltage electric transmission lines across Minnesota as part of a broader proposed regional transmission network connecting Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

The Savanna HVTL Project is a proposal by Great River Energy and Minnesota Power for new switching station and rebiuld of an existing 69 kV line to a 115 kV HVTL in St. Louis and Carlton Counties

Hayward Solar, LLC is proposing to build and operate a 150 MW solar farm in Freeborn County.

Heartland Corn Products proposes to construct an approximately 7.78-mile long, 6.625-inch outside diameter natural gas pipeline in Sibley County, Minnesota. The pipeline will originate near 595th Avenue, north of Highway MN- 19 (west of the City of Winthrop) and tie into the Hutchinson Utilities Commission pipeline at a new interconnect station.

Great River Energy and Itasca-Mantrap Electric Cooperative propose to construct and operate approximately 4.3 miles of new 115 kV transmission line and a new Heartland Lakes Substation in Hubbard County

A battery energy storage system with a nominal power rating of up to 125-megawatt (MW) alternating current with approximately 500 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy capacity, and a 2,874-foot long 115 kV high voltage transmission line (HVTL) on a site consisting of 68 acres on land owned by Otter Tail Power in Fergus Falls, Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

Iron Pine Solar Power, LLC is proposing an up to 325-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generating system and a 230-kilovolt high voltage transmission line in Kettle River Township, Pine County, Minnesota.

Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC propose to construct approximately 67.5 miles of transmission line from Minnesota Power's Iron Range Substation near Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Minnesota Power's St. Louis County Substation near Hermantown, Minnesota, with a connection to American Transmission Company's nearby Arrowhead Substation along portions of Itasca and St. Louis Counties. The route proposed is located along, and in some cases replaces, existing high-voltage transmission lines for 92 percent of its length. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Grand Rapids and Hermantown. Existing substations would also require expansions.

Great River Energy (GRE) and Meeker Energy propose to construct and operate a new 4-mile long 115 kV overhead single circuit transmission line starting at the proposed new switch structure to be constructed at the southeast corner of 140th Street (Meeker-Stearns Street) and 138th Avenue along the existing GRE 115 kV ME-BW transmission line and ending at the proposed Kimball Substation parcel.

Lake Charlotte, LLC proposes to construct the 150 MW Lake Charlotte Solar Facility and 150 MW / 600-megawatt hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Rutland Township, Martin County, Minnesota.
 

Lake Wilson Solar Energy proposes to construct and operate Lake Wilson Solar Energy Center, an up to 150 megawatt alternating current photovoltaic solar energy generating facility with 95 megawatts of battery storage in Leeds Township, Murray County, Minnesota.

Great River Energy proposes to construct a new 4.3 mile long 115 kV transmission line in Laketown and Dahlgren Townships in Carver County.

Lemon Hill Solar, LLC is proposing to construct an up to 180-megawatt solar energy generating facility in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

Enbridge Energy proposes to replace 337 miles of the Line 3 Pipeline in Minnesota. Line 3 originates in Canada, continues through North Dakota, enters Minnesota in Kittson County, and terminates in Superior, Wiscsonsin.