Project Details
Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, along with Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency propose to construct a new 345 kV transmission circuit on mostly existing transmission line structures from the existing Bison Substation near Fargo, North Dakota to the existing Alexandria Substation in Alexandria, Minnesota. The existing 345 kV structures were previously permitted and constructed as double-circuit capable as part of the Fargo – St. Cloud 345 kV Transmission Project.
Project Contact
Project Summary
The project consists of adding a second circuit to existing transmission infrastructure, as well as the installation of an estimated 107 new monopoles (86 structures within Minnesota) along the existing transmission corridor to address alignment changes (such as directional turns) and certain highway crossings. Within Minnesota, the project extends from the Minnesota - North Dakota border in Holy Cross Township in Clay County, through Clay, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, and Douglas counties, and terminates at Alexandria Substation in Alexandria, Minnesota. The Project also includes modifications to the existing Bison Substation in North Dakota and the existing Alexandria Substation in Minnesota.
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Key Project Documents
Date
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Title
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Description
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01/29/2026
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Certificate of Need Application
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Docket Documents
View Project Documents (last 30) View All Project Documents
| Date | Document ID | On Behalf Of | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | 20262-228320-01 | PUC | EIP Staff Recommendations on Certificate of Need Application Completeness and Rule Variance |
| February 17, 2026 | 20262-228258-01 | DOC DER | |
| February 11, 2026 | 20262-228069-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Reply Comments on Completeness |
| February 11, 2026 | 20262-228034-01 | PUC EIP | EIP Staff Comments on Certificate of Need Application Completeness and Rule Variance |
| February 6, 2026 | 20262-227911-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Eighth Status Update to the Commission |
| February 4, 2026 | 20262-227835-01 | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc | |
| February 4, 2026 | 20262-227843-01 | DOC DER | |
| January 26, 2026 | 20261-227394-01 | PUC | NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD ON APPLICATION COMPLETENESS |
| January 21, 2026 | 20261-227171-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Affidavit of Mailing for Paper Copies of Certificate of Need Application |
| January 15, 2026 | 20261-226992-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Appendices A through I |
| January 15, 2026 | 20261-226996-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Summary of Certificate of Need Application |
| January 15, 2026 | 20261-226989-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Certificate of Need Application |
| January 15, 2026 | 20261-226994-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Appendix J |
| January 14, 2026 | 20261-226925-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Missouri River Energy Services, on behalf of Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Notice Plan |
| December 23, 2025 | 202512-226168-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Seventh Status Update to the Commission |
| November 18, 2025 | 202511-225042-01 | PUC | |
| November 10, 2025 | 202511-224805-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Sixth Status Update to the Commission |
| October 20, 2025 | 202510-224097-01 | PUC | October 30, 2025 Agenda |
| October 17, 2025 | 202510-223993-01 | PUC | October 30, 2025 Agenda |
| September 26, 2025 | 20259-223354-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Fifth Status Update to the Commission |
| September 26, 2025 | 20259-223355-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Reply Comments on Exemption Request |
| September 24, 2025 | 20259-223278-01 | Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Reply Comments on Notice Plan |
| September 19, 2025 | 20259-223182-01 | DOC DER | |
| September 3, 2025 | 20259-222680-01 | DOC DER | |
| August 29, 2025 | 20258-222594-01 | No CapX 2020 | No CapX 2020 - Notice and Exemption Comments |
| August 29, 2025 | 20258-222594-01 | No CapX 2020 | No CapX 2020 - Notice and Exemption Comments |
| August 29, 2025 | 20258-222542-01 | PUC | NOTICE OF COMMENT PERIOD ON REQUEST FOR EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN CERTIFICATE OF NEED APPLICATION CONTENT REQUIREMENTS |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222171-01 | Northern States Power Company, dba Xcel, Great River Energy, MN Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western MN Municipal Power Agency | Notice Plan Petition |
| August 15, 2025 | 20258-222169-01 | Northern States Power Company, dba Xcel, Great River Energy, MN Power, Otter Tail Power Company, and Western MN Municipal Power Agency | Exemption Request |
| August 14, 2025 | 20258-222089-01 | Northern States Power Company, dba Xcel, Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Otter Tail Power Company and Western MN Municipal Power Agency | Fourth Status Update to the Commission |