Electric Transmission Planning in the State of Minnesota

Includes Benton, Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Mcleod, Meeker, Pope, Renville, Sherburne, Stearns, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Wright counties.

Detailed West Central Planning Zone Map (PDF)

2007 Public Information Meeting

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.

Issues Specific to This Zone

Canby-Appleton Area
• Canby-Appleton 115-kV line upgrade of an existing 41.6-kV line
• Application for certificate of need and route permit for uprating the existing 41.6-kV line to 115-kV has been submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MN PUC)
•Expected construction start date is spring 2007
•Anticipated in-service date is spring 2008

Glenwood Area
• Load serving needs in the area

Hutchinson Area
• Hutchinson – McLeod - Big Swan project built and energized
• McLeod County-Glencoe 115-kV line built and waiting final testing prior to energization
• Suggested Glencoe – West Waconia – Scott County 115-kV line to provide voltage support to both Glencoe and Scott County

St. Cloud- Alexandria Area
• Variety of local load serving and voltage issues
• Suggested new substations
• Suggested capacitor additions
• Long-term 115-kV concept

Generation
• West Central CBED Study results
• Significant development of generation in Southwest Minnesota has exceeded the capacity of the existing transmission system
• Several projects underway to add additional transmission capacity for generation outlet

Hwy. 10/I-94 Corridor to St. Cloud
• New 345/115-kV source (transformer) at Sherburne County
• Upgrade of existing Twin Cities-St. Cloud 115-kV line
• CapX connection expected in St. Cloud and Twin Cities

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.

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