Minnesota Energy Connection

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.