Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project

Project Details

Docket Numbers
Project Name
Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project
Applicant
Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, through its agent, Missouri River Energy Services (collectively, the Applicants)
Location
Douglas County, Pope County, Stevens County, Swift County, Big Stone County
Description

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.
 

Status
active

Project Contact

Contact
Jenna Ness
Phone

Project Summary

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. The project is needed to provide additional transmission capacity, mitigate current capacity issues, and improve electric system reliability.

The Big Stone South to Alexandria project is the West segment of the larger Big Stone South – Alexandria – Big Oaks 345 kV transmission line project which has obtained a certificate of need (CN-22-538) as a whole. This project comprises the West segment from Big Stone South to Alexandria which filed for a separate route permit application than the East Alexandria to Big Oaks segment, which has already recieved a route permit.

Interactive Map

Key Project Documents

Date
Title
Description
01/06/2026
Final Environmental Impact Statement - Main Text
10/22/2024
On October 22, 2024, the applicants filed a route permit application for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345-kV Transmission P
09/29/2023
On September 29, 2023, the applicants filed a certificate of need application for the entire project (Big Stone South to Alexand

Docket Documents

View All Project Documents 

Date Document ID On Behalf Of Description
March 5, 2026 20263-228965-01 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
February 27, 2026 20262-228744-01 PUC EIP EIP Staff Exceptions to the ALJ Report
February 23, 2026 20262-228460-02 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Certificate of Service and Service List
February 23, 2026 20262-228460-01 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Affidavits of Publication and Tear Sheets
February 18, 2026 20262-228272-01 CAH Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendations
February 2, 2026 20262-227783-01 PUC Received Outside Comment Period- Marlin Zahn
January 20, 2026 20261-227107-01 PUC Received Outside Comment Period - John Beyer
January 16, 2026 20261-227017-02 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Reply Brief_Attachmant A
January 16, 2026 20261-227017-03 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Updated Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations
January 16, 2026 20261-227017-04 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Redline Updated Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations
January 16, 2026 20261-227017-01 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Filing Letter_COS_SL
January 14, 2026 20261-226892-01 PUC Received Outside Comment Period - Ron Schmidt & Linda Schmidt Family Trust
January 12, 2026 20261-226737-01 PUC EIP PUC EIP Staff Reply to Applicants' Proposed Findings
December 23, 2025 202512-226296-01 PUC EIP Final EIS - EQB Monitor December 23, 2025
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-10 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Maps 18-21
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-07 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix H through O
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-05 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-30 through G-50)
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-09 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Maps 11-17
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-06 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-51 through G-65)
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-02 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix A through F
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-04 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-16 through G-29)
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-08 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement Maps 1-10
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-03 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-1 through G-15)
December 19, 2025 202512-226066-01 PUC EIP Final Environmental Impact Statement - Main Text
December 19, 2025 202512-226028-01 PUC Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Comment Period
November 24, 2025 202511-225217-01 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Filing Letter
November 24, 2025 202511-225217-04 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Post-Hearing Brief
November 24, 2025 202511-225217-02 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Response to Hearing Comments
November 24, 2025 202511-225217-03 Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Proposed Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations
November 19, 2025 202511-225058-01 PUC Received Outside of Comment Period - USFWS