Project

Description

Status

Great River Energy, power supplier to Stearns Electric Association, is planning to upgrade an existing 69 kV transmission line from City of Richmond six miles north to Stearns Electric's Farming distribution substation located in Farming Township.

GRE plans to obtain approval for this project through Stearns County, and will begin the permitting process in early 2008. Design and construction of the project is scheduled for summer and fall of 2008, with project completion in December 2008.

This project and other nearby 115-kilovolt projects will provide an outlet for 1,000 incremental megawatts of wind energy and enhance south Metro reliability. This project is part of CapX 2020, an innovative joint initiative to ensure long term electric reliability for Minnesota and the surrounding region in the future.

Great River Energy and other CapX 2020 utilities filed a certificate of need with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission August 16.

The CapX Brookings, S.D.–Southeast Twin Cities Notice Plan was filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on June 9, 2006.

Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative Electrical Association (Itasca-Mantrap) is an electric service provider in Hubbard County, Minnesota. Because this area has seen unprecedented growth in demand for electricity in the recent years, Itasca-Mantrap is planning to build a new substation to meet increasing electrical needs.

Permitting activities will begin during the winter of 2007.

Great River Energy serves customers in Crow Wing County, the rapidly growing Lake Mille Lacs area and surrounding rural areas. The new transmission line is needed to meet increasing demand.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the certificate of need and route permit for the project on January 25. Project design and easement acquisition are now underway.

A new distribution substation and transmission line need to be constructed to support growing electricity demand in the area around Longville. The substation will be located in Longville, and will be fed from a transmission line originating south of Wabedo Township. Feeding the substations from other directions has been evaluated but all other options west, north or east are not viable alternatives because of system deficiencies.

After reviewing numerous routes and soliciting feedback from governing agencies and local property owners, a final route has been established. Tree clearing and construction are planned to commence this summer, with project completion by the end of 2007.

Great River Energy serves customers in Pequot Lakes, Pine River, Backus, Hackensack, Park Rapids, and the surrounding rural areas. Based on historic and projected load growth rates, the existing transmission system will not be adequate to maintain acceptable voltage levels, which may jeopardize power delivery in these areas.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued a route permit for the Badoura project on October 31. Great River Energy will now proceed with project design and easement acquisition.

Great River Energy submitted a route permit application on March 14. The Environmental Assessment is now available.

Great River Energy serves customers in the Vermilion Lake area, Tower, Ely, Winton, Babbitt, and the surrounding rural areas. Based on historic and projected load growth rates, the existing 46 kV transmission system will not be adequate to maintain acceptable voltage levels, which may jeopardize power delivery in these areas.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission issued a route permit for the Tower project on August 1. The Western route proposed by the citizens is the route that was permitted by the Commission. Survey of the line is underway in fall, 2007.

Great River Energy, power supplier to Crow Wing Power, proposes building a nine-mile 115 kV transmission line to provide a connection between an existing 115 kV line located in southern Baxter and Minnesota Power's existing 115 kV line that extends along the northerly segment of East Sylvan Township.

The project will be permitted through the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The transmission line route permitting process will occur during the fall, 2007/ winter, 2008.

Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative is the electric service provider in and around Jordan, Minnesota. Because this area has seen unprecedented growth in both the residential and commercial sectors in recent years, MVEC is planning to build a new St. Lawrence Substation to meet increasing electrical needs.

Great River Energy filed notice of intent to seek local approval of the project to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission November 1.