Projects

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 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

Project proposes building new high-voltage electric transmission lines (765 kV and 345 kV) across Minnesota as part of a larger 3,600-mile regional transmission network spanning the Midwest and the eastern United States.

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.

[UPDATE] The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission canceled four public information and scoping meetings originally scheduled for the Iron Range – St. Louis County – Arrowhead 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Project. 

The written comment period was scheduled to close on Thursday, February 26, 2026, by 4:30 p.m., however, comments will be accepted past this date and through a formal extension of the comment period which will be announced.

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.

Xcel Energy's proposal for a battery energy storage system on a site adjacent to the Sherburne County Generating Station in the City of Becker, Sherburne County.

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.

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

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

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

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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

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.
 

North Star Energy Storage, LLC, proposes to construct the North Star Battery Energy Storage Project in the City of North Branch in Chisago County, MN.

Summit Lake proposes to construct the Summit Lake Solar Facility and Battery Energy Storage System, collectively the Project, in Summit Lake and Elk Townships, Nobles County, Minnesota. The Solar Facility is proposed as a solar energy conversion facility with a 200-megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity. The associated BESS will consist of a stand-alone structure with a 200 MW / 800-megawatt hour (MWh) nameplate capacity and ancillary support infrastructure. The BESS will be constructed directly adjacent to the collector substation for the Solar Facility.
 

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

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.
 

Otter Tail Power Company is proposing to construct an up to 66 megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generating facility in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
 

Snowshoe BESS, LLC proposes to construct and operate a battery energy storage system (BESS) with a nominal power rating of up to 150 megawatts (MW) alternating current (AC) with approximately 600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy capacity on a site of approximately 28 acres in Kalmar Township, Olmsted 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.
 

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.
 

Proposed 150 megawatt (MW) solar energy generation facility and 50 MW energy storage facility in Faribault County, Minnesota.
 

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

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

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

Xcel Energy is proposing additional dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel at the Prairie Island nuclear plant. The additional storage would allow continued operation of the plant until 2054.

Enbridge Solar (Plummer), LLC is proposing to construct an up to 130 MW solar energy generating system located in Emardville Township in Red Lake 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.

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

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.

Xcel Energy proposes to construct a new 250 MW solar energy project in Sherburne County, Minnesota

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.

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

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.

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.

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.