Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Line Project
Project Details
The Applicants propose to construct over 90 miles of new transmission line from Big Stone South, South Dakota to Alexandria, Minnesota along portions of Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, Pope, and Douglas Counties. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Big Stone South and Alexandria. Both of the existing substations would also require minor expansions. A new fiber optic Regeneration Station would also be needed within the central segment of the project on 0.23 acres of land.
Project Contact
Project Summary
The Applicants propose to construct over 90 miles of new transmission line from Big Stone South, South Dakota to Alexandria, Minnesota along portions of Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, Pope, and Douglas Counties. The project is needed to provide additional transmission capacity, mitigate current capacity issues, and improve electric system reliability.
The Big Stone South to Alexandria project is the West segment of the larger Big Stone South – Alexandria – Big Oaks 345 kV transmission line project which has obtained a certificate of need (CN-22-538) as a whole. This project comprises the West segment from Big Stone South to Alexandria which filed for a separate route permit application than the East Alexandria to Big Oaks segment, which has already recieved a route permit.
Interactive Map
Key Project Documents
Date
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Title
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Description
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01/06/2026
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Final Environmental Impact Statement - Main Text
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05/06/2025
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The Scoping Decision Document outlines what topics will be covered in the Environmental Impact Statement for the project.
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02/25/2025
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Attached is the prehearing order issued by the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission project. This document contains the milestones associated with the project's schedule in the route permitting and environmental review process.
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10/22/2024
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On October 22, 2024, the applicants filed a route permit application for the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345-kV Transmission Project with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
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09/29/2023
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On September 29, 2023, the applicants filed a certificate of need application for the entire project (Big Stone South to Alexandria to Big Oaks) with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.
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Docket Documents
View Project Documents (last 30) View All Project Documents
| Date | Document ID | On Behalf Of | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2026 | 20262-228460-02 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Certificate of Service and Service List |
| February 23, 2026 | 20262-228460-01 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Affidavits of Publication and Tear Sheets |
| February 18, 2026 | 20262-228272-01 | CAH | Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendations |
| February 2, 2026 | 20262-227783-01 | PUC | Received Outside Comment Period- Marlin Zahn |
| January 20, 2026 | 20261-227107-01 | PUC | Received Outside Comment Period - John Beyer |
| January 16, 2026 | 20261-227017-02 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Reply Brief_Attachmant A |
| January 16, 2026 | 20261-227017-03 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Updated Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations |
| January 16, 2026 | 20261-227017-04 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Redline Updated Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations |
| January 16, 2026 | 20261-227017-01 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Filing Letter_COS_SL |
| January 14, 2026 | 20261-226892-01 | PUC | Received Outside Comment Period - Ron Schmidt & Linda Schmidt Family Trust |
| January 12, 2026 | 20261-226737-01 | PUC EIP | PUC EIP Staff Reply to Applicants' Proposed Findings |
| December 23, 2025 | 202512-226296-01 | PUC EIP | Final EIS - EQB Monitor December 23, 2025 |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-10 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Maps 18-21 |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-07 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix H through O |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-05 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-30 through G-50) |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-09 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Maps 11-17 |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-06 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-51 through G-65) |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-02 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix A through F |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-04 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-16 through G-29) |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-08 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement Maps 1-10 |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-03 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Appendix G (G-1 through G-15) |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226066-01 | PUC EIP | Final Environmental Impact Statement - Main Text |
| December 19, 2025 | 202512-226028-01 | PUC | Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Comment Period |
| November 24, 2025 | 202511-225217-02 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Response to Hearing Comments |
| November 24, 2025 | 202511-225217-04 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Post-Hearing Brief |
| November 24, 2025 | 202511-225217-01 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Filing Letter |
| November 24, 2025 | 202511-225217-03 | Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Proposed Findings of Facts, Conclusions of Law and Recommendations |
| November 19, 2025 | 202511-225058-01 | PUC | Received Outside of Comment Period - USFWS |
| November 6, 2025 | 202511-224704-01 | PUC | Christina Pearson |
| October 27, 2025 | 202510-224315-01 | PUC | Received Outside Comment Period-Gwendolyn Schmidt |