Plum Creek Wind Farm and Associated 345 kV Transmission Line Project

Project Details

Docket Numbers
Project Name
Plum Creek Wind Farm and Associated 345 kV Transmission Line Project
Applicant
Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC (Geronimo Energy)
Location
Cottonwood County, Murray County, Redwood County
Description

Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC proposes to construct a 414 megawatt (MW) wind farm and associated 345 kV transmission line in Cottonwood, Murray, and Redwood County, Minnesota.

Status
active

Project Contact

Contact
Suzanne Steinhauer
Phone

Project Summary

On September 23, 2021, the Commission issued an order approving a certificate of need, site permit, and route permit to Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC (Plum Creek or Applicant) for the Plum Creek Project. In response to requests from Plum Creek, the Commission amended the site permits in January 2022 to clarify certain reporting requirements and in July 2023 to extend the time by which construction on the project must commence to four years from the date the permit was initially issued.

Plum Creek proposes to construct a 414 MW wind farm in Cottonwood, Murray, and Redwood County. The wind farm would include up to 74 wind turbines; the final number of turbines will depend on the turbine type(s) selected for the project. Electric power from the turbines would be collected at two collector substations. The wind farm would be connected to the electric transmission grid by approximately 31 miles of 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. The line would interconnect with the existing Brookings County to Hampton 345 kV transmission line via a switching station in Redwood County.  

Key Project Documents

Date Title Description
January 6, 2025 Site and Route Permits Current site and route permits issued by the Commission
September 23, 2021 Certificate of Need, Site Permit, and Route Permit The certificate of need, site permit, and route permit issued by the Commission for the Plum Creek Wind Project.
April 12, 2021 Final EIS Plum Creek Wind Project The Plum Creek Wind Project EIS was issued in draft form on January 11, 2021. Comments on the draft EIS were accepted through February 1, 2021. All comments received on the draft EIS and responses to these comments are included in this final EIS in Appendix G (Comment Response Document). Changes to the EIS text as a result of comments received are indicated by underlined passages (additions) or strikeouts (deletions). In addition, errors, and omissions in the draft EIS identified by Department staff have been corrected.
January 4, 2021 Plum Creek Wind Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement This draft environmental impact statement (EIS) has been prepared for the Plum Creek Wind Project proposed by Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC. This EIS evaluates the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project and possible mitigation measures including route, route segment, and alignment alternatives. Additionally, it evaluates alternatives to the Project itself.
September 28, 2020 Revised LWECS Site Permit Application Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC, an affiliate of Geronimo Energy, LLC, respectfully submits this Supplemental and Amended Site Permit Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for a Site Permit to construct and operate the up-to-414-megawatt (MW) nameplate capacity Plum Creek Wind Farm. Plum Creek filed an initial Site Permit Application on November 12, 2019. Since that filing, Plum Creek has withdrawn the GE-2.8-127 and Vestas 5.6-V150 turbine models for consideration, modified the layout for the Vestas 5.6-V162 turbine, and added the Siemens Gamesa 6.2-SG170 turbine and associated layout for consideration.
November 12, 2019 Route Permit Application The route permit application submitted by Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC for the 345 kV transmission line associated with the Plum Creek Wind Farm. The application discusses the 345 kV transmission line that will contact the wind farm to the electrical grid and possible routes for the line.
November 12, 2019 Site Permit Application The site permit application submitted by Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC for the 414 MW Plum Creek Wind Farm. The application discusses the proposed wind turbines and associated facilities for the project.
November 12, 2019 Certificate of Need Application The certificate of need application filed by Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC for the Plum Creek Wind Farm Project -- the wind farm and the associated 345 kV transmission line.

Environmental Review and Permitting Process

The applicant's proposed project requires three approvals from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) before it can be constructed -- a certificate of need (CN), a site permit for the wind farm, and a route permit for the 345 kV transmission line.

Department of Commerce, Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA) staff prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project. 

Docket Documents

View All Project Documents 

Date Title On Behalf Of Description
July 30, 2025 20257-221552-01 PUC July 10, 2025 Agenda
July 10, 2025 20257-220824-01 PUC July 10, 2025 Agenda - Staff New Revised Decision Option 1
July 9, 2025 20257-220799-01 PUC Notice of Legislative Changes
July 8, 2025 20257-220707-01 PUC Tuma Decision Options
July 8, 2025 20257-220754-01 Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC Update Regarding Status of Project
July 7, 2025 20257-220705-02 DOC
July 7, 2025 20257-220705-01 DOC
July 3, 2025 20257-220637-01 PUC July 10, 2025 Agenda
July 1, 2025 20257-220576-01 Plum Creek Wind Farm Change in Ownership
June 27, 2025 20256-220238-01 PUC July 10, 2025 Agenda Meeting
June 24, 2025 20256-220183-01 PUC Jeremy Duehr & Marta Lasch
June 12, 2025 20256-219845-01 PUC Proposed Consent Items
April 8, 2025 20254-217355-01 PUC Consent, Revised
April 4, 2025 20254-217303-01 PUC Consent
April 3, 2025 20254-217199-01 PUC Proposed Consent Items
March 21, 2025 20253-216692-01 Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC Supplemental
March 17, 2025 20253-216461-01 DOC - EERA EERA Supplemental Comments on Permit Amendment Requests
March 12, 2025 20253-216345-01 MN Department of Natural Resources DNR Comment Letter
March 12, 2025 20253-216336-01 Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC 2025-03-12 Plum Creek - Reply Comments re request to amend permits
March 12, 2025 20253-216345-02 MN Department of Natural Resources DNR Comment Letter - Attachment
March 6, 2025 20253-216128-01 PUC Dennis Fultz
March 5, 2025 20253-216089-01 DOC EERA EERA Comments and Recommendations on Permit Amendment Requests
March 4, 2025 20253-216039-01 PUC Robert and Jeanette Heggerston
February 24, 2025 20252-215702-02 PUC Jean Knakmuhs
February 24, 2025 20252-215702-03 PUC Jean Knakmuhs
February 24, 2025 20252-215702-01 PUC Jean Knakmuhs
February 12, 2025 20252-215297-01 PUC on Extension/Variance
February 4, 2025 20252-214951-03 Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC Appendix A_Draft Site Permit Amendment
February 4, 2025 20252-214951-07 Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC Appendix E_Capital Airspace Group Report
February 4, 2025 20252-214951-01 Plum Creek Wind Farm, LLC Letter