Approximately 50 people gathered at The Caboose in Tracy on April 21 for a presentation by PowerOn Midwest, and a time for questions and comments. PowerOn Midwest is a series of new electrical transmission projects anchored by a 765 kV backbone transmission line being develop by Great River energy, ITC Midwest and Xcel Energy. The project will connect eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and the broader region.
Representatives for the project explained that the use of power continues to increase. They feel this project would enhance grid reliability in the Upper Midwest to meet the growing and changing energy needs in the coming decades.
The meeting last Tuesday was held for three reasons: to explain the MPUC Certificate of Needs application; give details on the project; and to take comment. One question that wouldn't be answered is the exact route of the project as that has not yet been determined.
The project, as explained, is a largest transmission proposal crossing southern Minnesota. It includes roughly 340 miles of new 345 kB and 765 kB transmission facilities and upgrades to select substations and needs a certificate of need before it moves forward. The applicant must show that the project is needed and that this is the best way to fulfill the needs. A separate route permit process would come later if the commission grants the project certificate. After the comment period ends, the commission will establish the scope of the environmental report that will be prepared on the project. Those in attendance were looking for comments and alternatives to be included in the report.
Once the report is issued, public hearings will be held in the project area with an administrative law judge. The commission will make a decision on need in approximately 12 months.
If the commission decides it is needed, the applicants will need to apply for a route permit. At that time, residents would see an continued on page 16 actual proposed route.
The environmental report is a broad review that will study agricultural and natural resources, visual and community effects, public heath and safety, as well as construction impacts.
Matt Ellis, director of transmission planning at Great River Energy, explained the overview of the project. This project allows companies to pool their infrastructure and allows them to take the best bit of technology practices from each company and combine them.
“As utilities, we have a duty to ensure the people, communities and businesses continue to have access to reliable and affordable power. Today, the transmission grid has a 99% reliability,” Ellis said. “The reason the grid is reliable today is because of decisions and investments we made in the grid going back over a decade ago. Now we ‘re looking ahead 10-20 years from now and we’re making similar decisions and investments to make sure the grid 10-20 years from now is as reliable as it is today. Looking ahead, both how electricity is produced and how it is consumed is expected to change. With that, it is necessary to change the transmission grid; that’s the linkage between those two elements. PowerOn Midwest is part of that solution to provide continued, reliable insurance.”
The project will start in eastern South Dakota and will terminate in the Rochester area. It is part of a broader project that allows power to move from where it is being produced to where it is needed, Ellis explained, across a nine-state footprint. the project is bi-directional, which means the power can be brought in or brought out of southwest Minnesota.
“In short, the transmission grid needs to be expanded to move more power further distances to carry the generation of power to where it’s needed and when,” Ellis said.
Ellis explained that the demand forecast used for this project looked at the use of power in homes and businesses, but did not include potential growth for any data centers.
The eastern side of the project involves some 345 kB lines, while the majority of the project will consist of 765 kB lines. A typical 765 kB structure is 150-175 feet high and 135-145 feet wide with a 60- 80-foot minimum ground clearance. The foundation depth is 25-65 feet with a footprint size of 35x35 feet to 50x50 feet. The span between structures is 1,200-1,400 feet, which is approximately five structures for every mile.
Local Tracy farmer Dennis Fultz explained the need of the new project in relation to the highway system.
“The grid we have now to move power is like highways 14 and 71,” he said. “This project makes it more like an interstate to move the power instead of highways. if we make power in wind or solar, we have to move it.”
Ellis expounded on the advantages of using the 765 kB as the backbone of the project.
“There are several advantages to using this size over other line sizes,” Elis said. “First, it is efficient. It allows us to move a massive amount of power over long distances. Generally speaking, the higher the voltage your transmission lines, the less the line losses are. It all allows us to do more with less.”
This will be the first 765 kB line in Minnesota. However, Ellis pointed out that in the U.S. there are more than 2,000 miles of 765 kB lines in operation, dating back to the 1970s.
The process is a multiple-year project. From a timeline process, this year is the certificate of needs hearings. Parallel, the project will kick off a series of public workshops to develop and solicit route alternatives.
Currently, the target to file the route application (as long as the commission grants the certificate of need) is 2027.
Assuming the routes are approved, construction would begin around 2030 and wrap up by 2034.
During the public comment period, only four audience members spoke in objection or support. Lisa Dallenbach spoke in opposition of the project. Currently involved in another energy project, Dallenbach brought up other projects she felt were already running parallel to this project.
“We are already running paralleling lines for power,” she said. “I don’t know why we need that many lines for power. I am 100% against this project. Seeing how we couldn’t negotiate with them this last time, I can’t imagine they are going to be willing to work with us on another project.”
The first of the route open houses is tentatively set for June 2 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Lake Benton. More information on meetings and the project can be found on poweronmidwest.com
