Big Bend Wind 161 kV Transmission Line
Project Details
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.
Project Contact
Project Summary
The proposed Big Bend Wind 161 kilovolt (kV) will begin at the proposed Big Bend Wind Project substation, and extend 18 miles to the proposed step-up substation to be located near the intersection of 230th Street and 30th Avenue in Martin County. From the proposed step-up substation a less than 1,500 - 345 kV connection line will extend from the proposed step-up substation to the existing Crandall Switching Station located on the opposite side of 230th Street.
The proposed Big Bend Wind 161 kV HVTL will primarily serve to transmit wind energy generated at the Big Bend Wind Project to the electrical grid. Additional details on the Big Bend Wind Project can be found under Docket #WS-19-619. The proposed Big Bend Wind 161 kV HVTL will also serve as the transmission line for the solar energy generated at the proposed Red Rock Solar Project. Additional details on the proposed Red Rock Solar Project can be found under Docket #GS-19-620.
Key Project Documents
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| September 28, 2022 | HVTL Route Permit Issued 9-28-22 | Route Permit issued by the Commission for the Big Bend High Voltage Transmission Line |
| January 25, 2022 | Errata to the Environmental Assessment (with corrected Chapter 8 Table formatting) | Corrections to the EA completed for the Big Bend Wind, Red Rock Solar, and Big Bend HVLT Projects. |
| January 20, 2022 | Notice of Environmental Assessment Availability, Public Hearings, and Comment Period | The Environmental Assessment for Big Bend Wind, Red Rock Solar, and Big Bend HVTL Projects is available for review. Public Hearings will be held in-person in Windom, MN on February 1st, and virtually on February 2nd. There is a comment period associated with this notice, which ends at 4:30 pm on February 22nd. Please refer to the Notice for additional hearing and comment period details. |
| January 18, 2022 | Big Bend Wind and Red Rock Solar Environmental Assessment | Combined Environmental Report and Environmental Assessment for the Big Bend Wind, Red Rock Solar, and Big Bend HVTL Projects |
| April 9, 2021 | Public Information and Environmental Scoping - Presentations | Commission staff, Applicant, and DOC-EERA staff presentations from the April 1, 2021 virtual Public Information and Environmental Scoping Meeting. |
| March 17, 2021 | Notice of Public Information and Environmental Review Scoping Meeting for the Big Bend Wind Farm and Red Rock Solar Facility | A Public Information and Scoping Meeting will be held virtually on April 1, 2021, at 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend this meeting and provide comments specific to the proposed projects. Additionally, written comments can be submitted through the end of the comment period, April 30, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. |
| January 28, 2021 | Route Permit Application | Big Bend Wind, LLC submitted a Route Permit Application (RPA) for an approximately 18 mile long 116 kV transmission line in Cottonwood, Watonwan and Martin Counties. The proposed Big Bend Wind 116 kV HVTL would carry energy generated at the proposed Big Bend Wind Project and the Red Rock Solar Project to interconnect to an existing 345 kV transmission line near the Xcel Energy Crandall Switching Station. A second potential point of interconnection to the same existing 345 kV transmission line is located approximately 2 miles to the southwest of the primary point of interconnect, at the Great River Energy Lakefield Junction Peaking Plant. |