Minnesota Power, Great River Energy Advance Joint 345-kV Transmission Line Project with Application for Certificate of Need, Route Permit
04 Agosto 2023 - 5:30AM
Business Wire
Minnesota Power and Great River Energy today are filing an
application for a Certificate of Need and Route Permit from the
Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to build a
high-voltage transmission line to bolster electric reliability in
northern and central Minnesota.
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the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230804020172/en/
Proposed route for the Northland
Reliability Project subject to regulatory approval. (Photo:
Business Wire)
The Northland Reliability Project is an approximately 180-mile,
double-circuit, 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, primarily
following existing transmission corridors, from northern Minnesota
to central Minnesota. It will help maintain a reliable and
resilient regional power grid as more renewable energy is brought
online, existing coal plants are transitioned, electrification
continues to expand, and more frequent extreme weather events
occur.
The jointly developed project is one of 18 transmission projects
approved in July 2022 by the region’s grid operator, the
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), in the first phase
of its Long-Range Transmission Plan to integrate new generation
resources and boost grid resilience as the energy transition
continues. The Northland Reliability Project is the first project
in this portfolio to reach this milestone of a state regulatory
process.
“The pace of change is upon us and we are laser focused on
getting this line built to ensure reliability for our members and
customers in northern and central Minnesota,” said Great River
Energy’s Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel.
“We are proud to be developing this project responsibly at every
juncture. We have gone to great lengths to engage with community
members and critical leaders over the last year, understanding that
no voice is more important than that of a cooperative member who
will be hosting this project on their property.”
The companies jointly held nearly 30 public open houses and
numerous stakeholder meetings over the past year to provide
opportunities for engagement with landowners, local governments,
agencies, and Tribal Nations. This public feedback is reflected in
the proposed route.
“Collaboration with other utilities is critical as we invest in
the transmission needed to maintain a reliable and resilient grid
in northeast Minnesota and the Upper Midwest,” said Minnesota
Power’s Vice President of Transmission and Distribution Dan
Gunderson. “Transmission is an integral part of Minnesota Power’s
EnergyForward strategy for serving customers and communities
as we work toward achieving both our vision and Minnesota’s energy
policy goal of a carbon-free future. As energy resources change,
the regional power grid that delivers energy needs to change, too.
This project will help retain our outstanding reliability, provide
system support as resources transition to different operating
profiles, increase capacity, strengthen resiliency, and enhance
grid flexibility.”
Subject to regulatory approvals, the companies expect
construction to begin in 2027 and the line to be operational in
2030. Total cost is estimated between $970 million and $1.3
billion. The MPUC will determine need and the final route, and
separately review cost recovery for Minnesota Power’s share of the
project. MISO allocation will help offset costs for customers and
members.
Utilities across the region are significantly increasing the
amount of renewable energy they provide to their customers. By
reducing coal-based energy and more than doubling renewable energy,
Great River Energy anticipates that by 2035 its retail electric
sales will be provided by a 90% carbon-free power supply in
alignment with the Minnesota carbon-free standard. Minnesota Power
was the first utility in the state to deliver 50% renewable energy
to customers in 2021 with plans to be more than 70% renewable by
2030.
Project details
The Northland Reliability Project is divided into two
segments.
Segment one: Approximately 140 miles of new 345-kV
double-circuit transmission lines will be constructed primarily
near existing transmission line corridors, from Minnesota Power’s
Iron Range Substation in Itasca County to Great River Energy’s
Benton County Substation near St. Cloud.
Segment two: A 20-mile 230-kV line will be replaced with two
345-kV circuits along existing transmission corridors from the
Benton County Substation to a new Big Oaks Substation that will be
built as part of a separate project. A 20-mile 345-kV line will
also be replaced along existing transmission corridors from the
Benton County Substation to the Sherco Substation in Sherburne
County.
Other improvements: In addition to the transmission line, the
Northland Reliability Project will expand the Iron Range Substation
near Grand Rapids and the Benton County Substation near St. Cloud.
A new Cuyuna Series Compensation Station will be built in Crow Wing
County near the existing Riverton Substation.
For more information and a map of the Northland Reliability
Project’s route corridor, visit
https://northlandreliabilityproject.com. People also can subscribe
to receive updates about the project from the MPUC. Visit
edockets.state.mn.us and enter docket 22-416 for information on the
Certificate of Need or docket 22-415 for information on the Route
Permit.
Great River Energy, Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a not-for-profit
wholesale electric power cooperative which provides electricity to
approximately 1.7 million people through its 27 member-owner
cooperatives and customers. Through its member-owners, Great River
Energy serves two-thirds of Minnesota geographically and parts of
Wisconsin. Learn more at greatriverenergy.com.
Minnesota Power provides electric service within a
26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting
comfort, security and quality of life for 150,000 customers, 14
municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the
United States. More information can be found at mnpower.com.
ALE-CORP
The statements contained in this release and statements that
ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not
historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in
documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230804020172/en/
Amy Rutledge Director Corporate Communications Minnesota
Power/ALLETE 218-348-2961 arutledge@mnpower.com
Lori Buffington Leader, Communications Great River Energy
763-486-9266 lbuffington@grenergy.com
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