Benton Granite City BESS Project

Benton Granite City Energy Storage Systems, LLC is seeking a site permit to construct and operate a battery energy storage system with a nominal power rating of up to 300 MW alternating current with approximately 1,200 MWh of energy capacity on a project site consisting of approximately 87 acres of land in the St. Cloud-Minden Township OAA, approximately 0.4 miles from the St. Cloud municipal boundary and approximately four (4) miles east of the city of Sauk Rapids municipal boundary in Benton County, Minnesota. 

Project construction is anticipated to require approximately 59.1 acres of the Preliminary Development Area, and operation of the project will require approximately 18.3 acres of the Preliminary Development Area.  Project design includes battery storage enclosures (cabinets) housed in fire-resistant containers, power conversion systems (inverters and transformers), underground collection and communication lines, a stormwater basin, access roads, security fencing, and a temporary laydown yard to be used for equipment staging, storage, and parking during construction. The project will connect to the grid via the Benton Solar Substation which is connected to the Benton County Substation via the permitted Benton Solar 115 kV transmission line.

The applicant anticipates the remaining 27.6 acres of the project site, outside of the Preliminary Development Area, will be leased to a tenant farmer for agricultural production during operation of the project.