Minnesota Energy Connection
Project Details
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.
Project Contact
Project Summary
Xcel Energy has applied for a certificate of need and a route permit to construct the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. The project consists of two major components: new substations along with upgrades to existing substations and new 345 kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission lines (HVTLs). The applicant proposed two possible HVTL routes as required by Minnesota Rule 7850.1900. Neither of these routes is designated as “preferred” by the applicant.
Proposed substation work involves:
- A new substation to be located near Garvin in Lyon County referred to as the Garvin Substation.
- An intermediate substation to be located 20 miles north of the proposed Garvin Substation referred to as the Intermediate Substation.
- A voltage-support substation to be located 80 miles south of the Sherco Substation in either Meeker, Kandiyohi, or Renville County referred to as the Support Substation.
- Modifications to the existing Sherco Substation and Sherco Solar West Substation near Becker in Sherburne County.
Proposed HVTL work involves:
- A new 345 kV double-circuit HVTL between the Garvin Substation and the existing Sherco Solar West Substation. The applicant’s proposed routes are 171 and 174 miles in length and designated as the Purple Route and Blue Route, respectively.
- A new 3.1-mile single-circuit 345 kV transmission line between the existing Sherco Solar West Substation and the Sherco Substation referred to as the Green Segment. The Green Segment would be co-located with applicant’s existing Line 5651, occupying the open position on the existing double-circuit-capable structures.
The applicant has generally requested a route width of 1,000 feet and a final right-of-way (ROW) width of 150 feet. Exceptions to the 1,000-foot route width include areas near certain conservation easements and proposed substations where route widths ranging from three-tenths to one and one-quarter miles are requested to enable flexibility in routing. The applicant anticipates that construction will begin in third quarter 2025, and that the new transmission line will be complete, with voltage support substations installed, by third quarter of 2031.
The Commission's docket number for the certificate of need for the project is: CN-22-131. The Commission's docket number for the route permit for the project is: TL-22-132.
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Latest News
The Department of Commerce issued the draft environmental impact statement for the project.
The Department of Commerce issued the final environmental impacts statement for the project.
Key Project Documents
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| January 22, 2025 | Final Environmental Impact Statement | The final environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. The final EIS responds to comments received on the draft EIS. |
| January 21, 2025 | Minnesota Energy Connection Project: Notice of Final Environmental Impact Statement Availability | The Minnesota Department of Commerce has issued the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Minnesota Energy Connection project. The FEIS is a written document that describes the human and environmental impacts of the proposed project and selected route alternatives, and methods to mitigate potential impacts. |
| October 8, 2024 | Draft Environmental Impact Statement | The draft environmental impact statement prepared for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. |
| May 15, 2024 | Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Decision | The Department of Commerce issued the scoping decision for the Minnesota Energy Connection Transmission Line Project. |
| October 30, 2023 | Route Permit Application | Xcel Energy's route permit application for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. |
| March 17, 2023 | Certificate of Need Application | Xcel Energy's certificate of need application for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. |
Environmental Review and Permitting Process
The project requires two separate approvals from the Commission—a certificate of need and route permit. The applicant filed its certificate of need application for the project on March 9, 2023. The Commission accepted the certificate of need application as complete and authorized use of informal proceedings for developing the record on May 2, 2024. The Commission later directed joint proceedings be held on the certificate of need application and the route permit application on August 10, 2023. A route permit application was filed on October 30, 2023.
EERA staff prepared an EIS that will inform the Commission’s decisions on the applicant’s certificate of need and route permit applications.
Questions Asked and Answered
Can the applicant use eminent domain? If a certificate of need and route permit is issued by the Commission, the applicant could exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire land for the project.
When will the draft EIS be issued? The draft EIS is anticipated to be issued in October 2024
Participate
After close of the comment period on the draft EIS, public hearings, presided over by an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings, will be held in the project area. The hearings will address the need for the project (certificate of need) and, if needed, the most appropriate location for the project (route permit). At these hearings, citizens, agencies, and governmental bodies will have an opportunity to submit comments, present evidence, and ask questions. Citizens can advocate for or against the granting of a certificate of need; they can also advocate for what they believe is the most appropriate route for the project and for any conditions to include in a route permit. After the public hearings, an evidentiary hearing will be held in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The ALJ will submit a report to the Commission with findings of facts, conclusions of law, and recommendations regarding a certificate of need and a route permit for the project.