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.

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.
 

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 is proposing additional dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Monticello nuclear plant. The additional storage would allow continued operation of the plant until 2040.

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.

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.

Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC, proposes to construct about 30 miles of carbon dioxide pipeline through Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties.

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.

Petroleum Fuels Company (PFC) is proposing to construct a 5,600 foot long natural gas pipeline in Dakota County. The pipeline will transport natural gas from a processing facility near the Pine Bend landfill to an interconnection with the Northern States Power gas system.

The Magellan Pipeline Company proposes to relocate approximately 0.74 miles of an existing petroleum pipeline in Pipestone County.

The proposed repowering of the Pleasant Valley Wind Project will consist of upgrading the existing 100 Vestas V100 turbines with Vestas V110, 2.2 MW turbines. Existing wind turbine towers will remain in place and be used for the installation of the new Vestas V110 turbines. Repowering of 86 of 100 existing turbines will involve the replacement of some components of the existing turbine nacelles and installing rotors with longer blades. The remaining 14 turbines will be repowered by replacing the entire turbine nacelle and a rotor with longer blades. New, larger turbine blades, coupled with upgraded generators will result in an increase of nominal production capacity of the Pleasant Valley Wind Project from 200 MW to 220 MW.

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.