Dodge County Wind Project
Project Details
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.
Project Contact
Project Summary
Dodge County Wind, LLC (DCW or applicant), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, seeks a permit to construct and operate an up to 259 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Dodge and Steele counties in southeast Minnesota (Docket No. IP-6981/WS-20-866). To connect the proposed wind farm to the electrical grid, DCW also seeks a permit to construct approximately 27 miles of new 161 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between a new project substation and the existing Pleasant Valley Substation in Mower County (Docket No. IP6981/TL-20-867). The proposed transmission line route is in Dodge and Mower counties. DCW filed applications for the site and route permits for the project with the Commission on September 14, 2021. DCW filed amended applications for a certificate of need and site permit on January 12, 2022, and filed an amended application for a route permit on January 14, 2022.
The proposed project revises an earlier proposal to construct a 170 MW wind farm in Dodge and Steele counties and connect that wind farm to the electrical grid at the Byron Substation via a 21-mile to 26-mile long 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line through Dodge and Olmsted Counties (Docket number IP-6981/TL-17-308). DCW withdrew its original proposal in late 2019 due to greater than expected interconnection costs. Information on the earlier proposals for the 170 MW wind farm and the 345 kV transmission line can be found in the official eDockets record for each docket.
This webpage has been updated to link to the official eDockets record for the proposed site permit application and will be the main page for updates to the projects. A separate webpage is maintained for the route permit application and will link to the official eDockets record for the route permit application.
Interactive Map
Latest News
The Department of Commerce released the environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Dodge County Wind Project on November 30, 2023. The EA addresses the issues and alternatives identified in the Department’s July 27, 2023, scoping decision.
The Public Utilities Commission will hold hearings will be held at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at Saker’s Sports Bar & Grill, 401 8th Street SE, Kasson, MN.
A remote access public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 20.
Key Project Documents
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| March 13, 2025 | DCW Site and Route Permits | The Commission issued an order granting a certificate of need and site and route permits for the 259 MW wind farm and associated 161 kV transmission line on June 4, 2024, and issued the site and route permits on June 11, 2024. On October 15, 2024, the Commission issued an updated route permit including route maps that were inadvertently omitted from the June permit order. |
| November 30, 2023 | Dodge County Wind Environmental Assessment | The environmental assessment (EA) for the Dodge County Wind Project prepared by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The EA analyzes the potential impacts of the project and possible mitigation measures. The EA also discusses the potential impacts of alternatives to the project itself. |
| July 27, 2023 | Environmental Assessment Scope | The Department of Commerce will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) that will address the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project. The Scoping Decision identifies the project alternatives and issues that will be studied in the EA, as well as those issues that will not be addressed |
| June 13, 2023 | Dodge County Wind Project Advisory Task Force Report | Report for the advisory task force established by the Department of Commerce for the proposed 161 kV transmission line associated with the wind project. The task force identified issues, impacts, and potential mitigation measures related to the transmission line. The task force recommended the environmental review evaluate additional route alternatives. The task force also recommended that the applicant withdraw portions of the route proposed by the applicant. |
| March 20, 2023 | Commission Order Authorizing Task Force and Issuing Draft Site Permit | On February 24, 2023, the Commission issued its Order issuing a draft site permit for the wind farm component of the project and authorizing an advisory task force for assist the Department in identifying issues and impacts of local concern and mitigation, including additional route alternatives. |
| September 1, 2022 | Dodge County Wind Comments and Proposed Alternate Route Segments | In its July 29, 2022 filing responding to scoping comments, Dodge County Wind, LLC (DCW) proposed three additional route segment alternatives. DCW provided additional information on the proposed route segment alternatives on August 22, 2022. |
| January 21, 2022 | Dodge County Wind Amended Route Permit Application | On January 14, 2022, Dodge County Wind, LLC filed an amended Route Permit Application for a 161 kV transmission line in Dodge and Mower counties. This application supersedes the route permit application filed in September 2021 |
| January 21, 2022 | Dodge County Wind Project Amended Site Permit Application | On January 12, 2022, Dodge County Wind, LLC filed an amended Site Permit Application for an up to 259 MW large wind energy conversion system in Dodge and Steele counties. This application supersedes the previously filed site permit application filed in September 2021. |
| December 31, 2019 | Commission Order allowing withdrawal of transmission route permit application and suspending review of the certificate of need (CN) and site permits. | On December 5, 2019, the Commission granted DCW's request to withdraw its route permit application. The Commission also suspended its review of the CN and site permit, and directed DCW to re-file comprehensive and complete CN and site permit applications that address the associated facilties required to connect the wind farm to the electric grid. |