Projects

The Project involves construction of a new 345 kV double-circuit transmission line, initially operated as a single circuit, extending from Minnesota Power’s Cuyuna Substation in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, to Otter Tail Power Company’s Maple River Substation in Cass County, North Dakota

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.

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.

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.

Application for a 2 mile 115 kV double-circuit high voltage transmission line (HVTL) in the City of Maple Grove, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Great River Energy and Lake Region Electric Cooperative propose to build a new 2.9-mile 115-kilovolt single-circuit high voltage transmission line and a new Otto Substation in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

Northern States Power Company, a Minnesota corporation doing business as Xcel Energy, has submitted a Combined Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) for the proposed Lyon County Generating Station Project. This application seeks multiple approvals, including a Certificate of Need, Site Permit, Transmission Line Route Permit, and Pipeline Routing Permit, as well as a Partial Exemption for routing the pipeline.
 

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

Midwater BESS, LLC, a subsidiary of Spearmint Renewable Development Company, LLC, plans to build and operate a 150-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) and a 2,668-foot long 161 kV high voltage transmission line (HVTL) in Shell Rock Township, Freeborn County, Minnesota. The project, called the Midwater Energy Storage Project, will interconnect the BESS to the grid. Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of 2027, with commercial operations set for the end of 2027.
 

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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

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.

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

Proposed construction and operation of approximately 130 miles of 345 kV transmission line from the Wilmarth Substation in Mankato, MN to the Mississippi River near Kellogg, MN. The project will also include the construction of new 161 kV transmission line, approximately 20 miles long from the existing North Rochester Substation near Pine Island, Minnesota to a connection point with an existing 161 kV Chester transmission line northeast of Rochester, Minnesota.

Dairyland Power Cooperative has submitted a joint Certificate of Need and Route Permit Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to relocate approximately 13.3 miles of 161-kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line (HVTL) and construct a new substation in Wabasha 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.

The Commission issued a route permit to Great River Energy to rebuild an existing 69 kV transmission line in Eagan and Burnsville as 115 kV transmission line.

Minnesota Power and Great River Energy propose to construct approximately 140 miles of new double-circuit 345 kV transmission line and to replace approximately 40 miles of existing transmission line with double-circuit 345 kV transmission line. The project would connect the existing Iron Range substation, near Grand Rapids, Minn., to a new Big Oaks substation near Monticello, Minn.

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.

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

To modernize the Minnesota terminal of the existing Square Butte high voltage direct current (HVDC) line that runs from North Dakota to Northeast Minnesota, a new terminal, new substation, and three high voltage transmission lines are proposed on a new site near the existing Arrowhead Substation in St. Louis County, Minnesota.

Xcel Energy has applied for a certificate of need to construct two approximately 160- to 180-mile 345 kilovolt transmission lines and associated facilities connecting the Sherburne County Generation Station Substation (Sherco Substation) in Becker, Minnesota, and a new substation in Lyon County, Minnesota.

Great River Energy proposes to replace and upgrade 3.2 miles of existing 69-kV transmission line with 115-kV transmission line in St. Joseph, MN. Two existing substations along the route will be modified to accommodate the upgrade.

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).

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.

Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy is proposing to construct an up to 460-megawatt solar project and two 345 kilovolt transmission lines to interconnect the Solar Project to the\r\ngrid. As proposed, the West high voltage transmission line (HVTL) is approximately 3.2 miles long and the East HVTL line is approximately 1.7 miles long; both HVTL lines connect the Solar Project to the existing\r\nSherburne County Substation. The Solar Project will partially replace energy production of the Sherco Generating Plant Unit 2, currently a coal-powered facility, which will cease operations in 2023.

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.

Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC proposes to construct a 414 megawatt (MW) wind farm and associated transmission line in Cottonwood, Murray, and Redwood County, Minnesota. The transmission line is proposed to be a 345 kilovolt (kV) line, with a length of approximately 31 miles.

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