Electric Transmission Planning in the State of Minnesota

The public was invited to join representatives from area utilities in a planning meeting to discuss the electric transmission system in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

Discussion focused on identifying problems with the existing system in meeting the demand for electricity in the area and possible solutions, including possible new transmission projects. A synopsis of public comments from the meeting will be included in a Biennial State Transmission Plan the utilities will submit to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). The plan will also include a list of transmission lines each utility is requesting certification from the MPUC to build. The MPUC will provide opportunity for public comment on the plan.

Public participation is an important part of the transmission planning process as we work together to ensure continued reliable service to Minnesota residents.

Issues Specific to This Zone

Here are some issues for the southwest zone.

General Issues
• New and expanding ethanol plants are additional significant loads to the transmission system in the area
•This system was built in the 1960s and 70s for much slower load growth. The added load is almost equal to all of the existing load in the area
• Transmission additions are required to build an updated electrical network that can meet the future electrical demands of southwestern Minnesota

Dotson Area
• Low voltage in the Springfield area causes various outages
• New ethanol plants anticipated near Springfield and Lamberton
• New wind generation projects near Storden, Jeffers, Brookville and Morgan
• Proposed transmission solutions: new 161-kV transmission line between Heron Lake, Storden, Dotson and New Ulm to be completed in 2010

Jackson Area
• Low voltage in the area during summer and fall peak conditions, even without outages
• Proposed to reconnect the Jackson municipal load to the new Xcel Energy 161-kV line between Fox Lake and Lakefield Junction. This line is needed for wind generation outlet and will be finished soon.

Butterfield, Mountain Lake, St. James & Windom Areas
• New ethanol plants are being proposed in these areas.
• The voltages in the area are already marginal due to the slow growing load in the area and a previous ethanol plant near Bingham Lake (Lakeside).
• New ethanol plants will trigger additional transmission lines.
• The proposed Heron Lake—Storden—Dotson—New Ulm 161-kV transmission line will bolster the system. Reconductoring lines in the Mountain Lake area and new transmission lines may be required depending on the number of new ethanol plants that are built.

Fox Lake—Fairmont Area
• New ethanol plant loads at Fairmont and Welcome will add significant load to the 69-kV system between the Fox Lake and Rutland substations. Additional transmission is required to prevent overloads of lines and low voltages at the substations.
• Another transformer is proposed at the Rutland substation to prevent an overload of the existing transformer.
• A new 69-kV line will be built from the Rutland substation to the west side of the Fairmont area to serve the new loads.

Worthington Area
• The continued growth of Worthington and surrounding areas has resulted it electrical load levels that will soon surpass the capability of the existing system. Low voltages and transmission lines overloads will occur.
• A study is underway to determine what transmission alternatives are feasible to serve the growing load in the Worthington area. This study will be coordinated among all of the transmission provides in the area (MRES, GRE, Alliant-West and Xcel Energy).

Jackson County wind generation
• Several small wind generation developments have taken place in Jackson County. These projects have interconnected to the 69-kV transmission line between Heron Lake and Round Lake. The capacity of this line will be exceeded during high wind periods if any additional wind interconnections are made; the line will become overloaded.
• The transmission owners will be studying alternatives, including new transmission lines, to increase the capability of the system to handle additional wind interconnection requests.

Big Stone II Transmission Projects
• New coal-fired generator proposed at existing Big Stone site in SD is proposing new transmission in MN.
• Certificate of Need filed with MN PUC in September, 2005.
• Route permit filed with MN PUC in December, 2005.
• Preferred transmission project involves new transmission lines from the Big Stone plant to Morris and Granite Falls.
• Morris line includes new construction (Big Stone – Ortonville) and rebuilding existing 115-kV line to 230-kV (Ortonville – Johnson – Morris).
• Granite Falls line includes new construction (Big Stone – Canby) and rebuilding existing 115-kV line to a higher voltage (Canby – Granite Falls).
• Big Stone – Granite Falls portion of preferred transmission alternative being proposed as being built at 345-kV, but only operated at 230-kV until other regional 345-kV transmission is built in the Granite Falls area.
• Anticipated in-service date of the new generation is late 2011 to mid-2012.

Summary of 2005 Meeting

A copy of the meeting agenda and presentations, including descriptions of specific transmission problems/inadequacies in the zone, alternative solutions and current or planned projects is available by downloading the following files:
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)

Additional comments or questions may be submitted by using the “Contact Us" link at the top of this web page.