Electric Transmission Planning in the State of Minnesota

Every two years, Minnesota utilities host webcasts to inform the public about electric transmission needs in the state. Below are links to the presentation delivered on electric transmission planning in Minnesota and electric transmission projects in the Southwest Zone. The presentation was delivered via webcast in September 2009.

SW Zone Presentation video (Flash)

SW Zone Presentation slides (PDF)

SW Zone Public Notice of Webcast (PDF)

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

Summaries of Meetings

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