Studies and Reports > 2009 MN Biennial Report > NE Planning Zone > Needs: 6.3.18 Bigfork Area

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6.3.18 Bigfork Area

Utility: Great River Energy

Inadequacy: The 69 kV system serving North Itasca Electric Cooperative’s service territory is a 60-mile radial line, and recent load growth has pushed the load serving capability of the system to its limits. A single contingency that removes the 115 kV source at Deer River causes marginal voltages to occur on several of the area substations during peak system loading.

A map of the area is shown on the following page.

Alternatives. Alternatives include distributed generation or a new transmission source tapping the Little Fork-Shannon 230 kV line to loop in the 69 kV transmission system. Any transmission solution would require, at minimum, a new transmission substation and at least 20 miles of 69 kV transmission.

Analysis. A distributed generation investment would have to be continual or sized to accommodate the future load growth. A transmission solution is attractive as it would offer a redundant source to the North Itasca system (increasing electric service reliability to the area) and allow for rebuilding of the existing aging transmission infrastructure. A new transmission source would also provide a backup for loss of the Deer River transformer, which is a rather severe contingency as backup sources are many miles away.

Schedule. GRE is targeting an in-service date between 2013 and 2015 for any investment in this area. Right-of-way activities for a transmission solution could commence as early as 2010.

Click here or on map below to download high resolution PDF map.