Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project
Project Details
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 09/26/2025 | Notice of Information Meetings | NOTICE OF INFORMATION MEETINGS, PUBLIC AND EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS, AND AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT |
| 09/04/2025 | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Main Text | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Main Text for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Maps 01-10 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Maps 01-10 |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Maps 11-17 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Maps 11-17 |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Maps 18-20 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Maps 18-20 |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Appendices A-E | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Appendices A to E |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Appendix F F-01 to F-15 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Appendix F (F-01 to F-15) |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Appendix F F-16 to F-29 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Appendix F (F-16 to F-29) |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Appendix F F-30 to F-50 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Appendix F (F-30 to F-50) |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Appendix F F-51 to F-65 | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Appendix F (F-51 to F-65) |
| 09/04/2025 | EIS Appendices G-N | Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project, Appendices G-N |
| 05/06/2025 | Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Decision Document | The Scoping Decision Document outlines what topics will be covered in the Environmental Impact Statement for the project. |
| 02/27/2025 | Project Schedule | Attached is the prehearing order issued by the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission project. This document contains the milestones associated with the project's schedule in the route permitting and environmental review process. |
| 10/22/2024 | Route Permit Application | On October 22, 2024, the applicants filed a route permit application for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345-kV Transmission Project with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. |
| 09/29/2023 | Certificate of Need Application | On September 29, 2023, the applicants filed a certificate of need application for the entire project (Big Stone South to Alexandria to Big Oaks) with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. |
Docket Documents
View Project Documents (last 30) View All Project Documents
| Date | Document ID | On Behalf Of | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 3, 2025 | 202510-223595-01 | CAH | Order Canceling Evidentiary Hearing |
| October 1, 2025 | 202510-223463-01 | PUC | Leslie Meek |
| October 1, 2025 | 202510-223464-01 | PUC | Grant Minnerath |
| October 1, 2025 | 202510-223466-01 | CAH | Order for Prehearing Conference |
| September 30, 2025 | 20259-223402-01 | PUC | Bill and Marilyn Anderson |
| September 29, 2025 | 20259-223381-01 | PUC | Meeting Presentation |
| September 26, 2025 | 20259-223347-01 | Troy Schmidtke | |
| September 26, 2025 | 20259-223348-01 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Filing Letter |
| September 26, 2025 | 20259-223348-02 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | DEIS Comments |
| September 26, 2025 | 20259-223403-01 | PUC | The Swensons |
| September 24, 2025 | 20259-223262-01 | PUC | Aaron & Michelle Knutson |
| September 24, 2025 | 20259-223262-02 | PUC | Brent Walker |
| September 23, 2025 | 20259-223235-01 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Errata to Direct Testimony |
| September 22, 2025 | 20259-223224-01 | PUC | MPCA |
| September 15, 2025 | 20259-222977-02 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Weiers Rebuttal Testimony |
| September 15, 2025 | 20259-222977-01 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Filing Letter, COS, and Service List |
| September 11, 2025 | 20259-223287-01 | PUC EIP | Certificate of Mailing Draft EIS to Libraries |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222715-02 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement Appendix F: (F-16 through F-29) |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-08 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement Appendix F (F-51 through F-65) |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-01 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Main Text |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-06 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Appendices G-N |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222715-01 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement Appendix F: (F-1 through F-15) |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-02 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Maps 1-10 |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-07 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Appendix F (F-30 through F-50) |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-04 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Maps 18-20 |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222690-01 | PUC | NOTICE OF INFORMATION MEETINGS, PUBLIC AND EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS, AND AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-03 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Maps 11-17 |
| September 4, 2025 | 20259-222710-05 | PUC EIP | Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Appendices A-E |
| September 2, 2025 | 20259-222688-01 | PUC EIP | Notice of Hearings and draft EIS in EQB Monitor |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222128-03 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Weiers Direct Testimony and Schedules A-C Part 2 of 4 |