Cedar Lake 115 kV HVTL Reroute Project
Project Contact
Project Summary
On June 7, 2023, Great River Energy (Applicant) submitted a high voltage transmission line Route Permit Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The RPA is submitted under the alternative review process (Minnesota Statute 216E.04; Minnesota Rule 7850.2800-3900).
The Project is being done to make room for a second 345-kV circuit to be attached to the existing CapX2020 Brookings to Hampton transmission structures, which run along County Road 2 in the Project area. The Project will include construction of a new approximately 6.3-mile 115-kV transmission line. The transmission line will connect at GRE’s existing MV-EVX 115-kV transmission line near the intersection of County Road 23 and Minnesota Highway 19 and extend to the existing Cedar Lake Substation south of County Road 2. The Project will initially operate at 69 kV; designing to 115-kV standards will simplify operating the regional transmission system at 115 kV as electrification and load development increases in the area. Once the transmission line is constructed and connected to the substation, GRE’s existing 4.5-mile MV-CDT 115-kV transmission circuit, which is co-located in part on the CapX2020 345-kV transmission structures along County Road 2, will be removed.
Key Project Documents
| Date | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| January 3, 2024 | Notice of Environmental Assessment, Assessment Availability, Public Hearings, and Comment Period - Cedar Lake Reroute | Commission staff provides notice of a public hearing to be conducted by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), in-person on January 24, 2024 and virtually on January 25, 2024. This notice also identifies the Environmental Assessment developed by DOC-EERA and made available on December 28, 2023. Public comments can be provided during either of the public hearings, and a written comment period is open until 4:30 p.m. on February 7, 2024. |
| December 28, 2023 | Cedar Lake Reroute - Environmental Assessment | DOC-EERA completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed Cedar Lake Reroute Project and alternative route segments identified in the EA Scoping Decision. |
| November 16, 2023 | Clear Lake Reroute Project EA Scoping Decision | The above matter is before the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce (Department) for a decision on the scope of the environmental assessment (EA) to be prepared for the Cedar Lake Reroute (Project) proposed by Great River Energy (GRE or Applicant) in Scott and Rice Counties. |
| August 15, 2023 | Public Comments - EA Scoping Comments Cedar Lake Reroute Project | Commission staff and EERA staff jointly held a Public Information and EA Scoping meeting at the The Park Ballroom in New Prague on August 1, 2023. A remote-access meeting (Webex) was held on August 2, 2022. The purpose of the meetings was to provide information to the public about the proposed Project, to answer questions, and to allow the public an opportunity to suggest alternatives and impacts (i.e., scope) that should be considered during preparation of the environmental review document. A court reporter was present at the meetings to document oral statements. |
| July 14, 2023 | Draft EA Scoping Document | Scoping focusses the Environmental Assessment on the most relevant information. It provides an opportunity for public input on the table of contents. |
| July 14, 2023 | NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SCOPING MEETINGS | PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Commerce will hold public information and environmental assessment scoping meetings on Great River Energy’s application for a route permit to construct approximately 6.3 miles of 115 kilovolt high-voltage transmission line to connect the Cedar Lake substation to GRE’s MV-EVX 115-kV HVTL in Scott and Rice counties |
| July 5, 2023 | Commission Order: Application Acceptance | The above entitled matter has been considered by the Commission and the following disposition made: 1. Accepted the HVTL Route Permit Applications for the Cedar Lake Reroute Project as substantially complete. 2. Took no action on an advisory task force at this time. 3. Requested a full ALJ report for the project. |
| June 28, 2023 | Great River Energy Application for a HVTL Route Permit for the Cedar Lake 115 kV Reroute Project | On June 7, 2023, Great River Energy submitted a high voltage transmission line Route Permit Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The RPA is submitted under the alternative review process (Minnesota Statute 216E.04; Minnesota Rule 7850.2800-3900). |
| May 3, 2023 | Notice of Intent by Great River Energy to Submit a Route Permit Application under the Alternative Permitting Process | In accordance with Minn. R. 7850.2800, subp. 2, this letter serves as notice to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission that Great River Energy intends to submit a Route Permit Application under the alternative permitting procedures of Minn. R. 7850.2800 to 7850.3900 for the construction of a 115‚ÄêkV high voltage transmission line in Scott and Rice Counties. |