Notice of Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kV Transmission Project Route Permit Application Filing with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

MPUC Docket No. E017, ET10/TL-23-160

October 22, 2024

To: Persons Interested in the Proposed Construction of the Big Stone South to Alexandria 345 kilovolt (kV) high voltage transmission line (HVTL) and associated facilities known as the Big Stone South to Alexandria Transmission Project in Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, Pope, and Douglas Counties, Minnesota; the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Energy Facilities General List; Local Officials; Tribes; and Property Owners

Otter Tail Power Company and Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, through its agent, Missouri River Energy Services (collectively, the Applicants) filed a Route Permit Application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) on October 22, 2024 (Application) for the portion of the Big Stone South to Alexandria Transmission Project located in Minnesota (Project). This notice provides information on the Project and the routing process, as well as how to register your name with the Commission on the Project contact list. Adding your name to the Project contact list with the Commission will ensure that you receive future notices about the Project.

The Project is one segment of the larger Big Stone South – Alexandria – Big Oaks 345 kV Transmission Project (Big Oaks Project). The Project comprises the Western Segment of the Big Oaks Project. In September 2023, a joint Certificate of Need application was filed for the Big Oaks Project in Minnesota in MPUC Docket No. E002, E017, ET2, E015, ET10/CN-22-538 and a separate Route Permit application was filed for the Eastern Segment from Alexandria to the new Big Oaks substation near Becker, Minnesota, in MPUC Docket No. E002, E017, ET2, E015, ET10/TL-23-159.

The Project also has an accompanying South Dakota transmission segment, which begins at the existing Big Stone South Substation located west of Big Stone City, South Dakota, and connects to the Project at the Minnesota/South Dakota border approximately one mile south of Big Stone City. The Applicants filed a facility permit application with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (SDPUC) in April 2024 for the South Dakota portion (SDPUC Docket No. EL24-015).

The Big Oaks Project is needed to provide additional transmission capacity, to mitigate current capacity issues, and to improve electric system reliability throughout the region as more renewable energy resources are added to the electric system in and around the region.

PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

The Project is located in Big Stone, Swift, Stevens, Pope, and Douglas Counties, Minnesota. The transmission line design selected for the Project will be a double-circuit, 345 kV transmission facility that is anticipated to be constructed on steel-monopole structures. Initially, a single-circuit, 345 kV transmission line, overhead ground wire, and optical ground wire for communications, will be installed, with a second, 345 kV circuit to be installed in the future when conditions warrant. Each circuit of the line will consist of three-phase conductors hung vertically from insulators attached to davit arms on each side of the monopole structure. Each phase will have a total of two conductor bundles with 18 inch, vertical spacing.

The Project is expected to have between approximately 525 – 575 transmission structures with spans ranging from 400 to 1,400 feet, but this may vary depending on geological, environmental, or engineering constraints identified during detailed survey and engineering work, site review, and design. The structures will be bolted to concrete, drilled pier foundations embedded in the ground. Foundation sizes vary generally from 7 to 14 feet in diameter and from 25 to 80 feet in depth. Specialty structures such as H-frame, two-pole or three-pole structures may be used where unique features are encountered along the route, such as crossing roadways or other transmission lines.

Modifications to the existing Alexandria Substation in Minnesota and the Big Stone South Substation in South Dakota will be performed as part of the Project.¹  In addition, a regeneration station for the fiber optic communications path is also expected along the proposed route of the Project.

As part of its routing analysis, the Applicants divided the Project into three Project Segments: South Segment, Central Segment, and North Segment. Within each Project Segment, two end-to-end Route Options (that start and end at a common point) were identified. The six Route Options include South 1, South 2, Central 1, Central 2, North 1, and North 2. The Route Options for this Project have route widths that are typically 1,000 feet wide, but there are portions of the Route Options where the route width is wider or narrower. The Applicants are requesting wider route widths in some areas to allow for flexibility in routing to avoid potential impacts, and narrower route widths at other locations near areas where natural resources and state conservation easements exist, which the Applicants intend to avoid to the greatest extent practicable. The segments, proposed Route Options, Segment Alternatives and Connectors Segments are further described and shown in the Application.

The Applicants plan to construct the Project on a schedule that facilitates an in-service date by the end of 2031.

The accompanying map outlines the location of the Project.

¹  A description of the modifications proposed at the Alexandria Substation are described in further detail within the Route Permit application for the Eastern Segment of the Big Oaks Project in MN Docket No. TL-23-159 while a description of the modifications proposed at the Big Stone South Substation are described in further detail within the Facility Permit application to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in SD Docket No. EL24-015.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED AND ROUTE PERMIT PROCESS

For the Project, the Commission must determine whether the Project is needed (Certificate of Need) and where the Project will be located (Route Permit).

On September 29, 2023, a joint Certificate of Need was filed with the Commission for the Project, as part of the larger Big Stone South – Alexandria – Big Oaks Project. The Certificate of Need process is governed by Minnesota law, including Minn. Stat. § 216B.243, and Minn. R. Chs. 7829 and 7849 – specifically Minn. R. 7849.0010 to 7849.0400 and 7849.1000 to 7849.2100. In the Certificate of Need proceeding, the Commission analyzed whether the Project is needed, including that it is the most appropriate size, type, and timing to address the needs identified on the transmission system. The Commission approved a Certificate of Need for the Project on October 3, 2024.

In addition to certifying that the Project is needed, the Commission must also grant a Route Permit for the Project prior to the Applicants starting construction. On October 22, 2024, the Applicants filed a Route Permit Application for the Project, which is the subject of this notice.

As part of the Route Permit process, the Commission determines the final route of the transmission line based on its review of the Application, feedback received from the public and other stakeholders, a report from an administrative law judge, and an environmental review performed by the Department of Commerce, Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (EERA).

The routing of the Project is governed by Minnesota law, including the Power Plant Siting Act, Minn. Stat. 216E and Minn. R. Ch. 7850. These statutes and rules also establish notice requirements for the routing process followed by the Commission. The Application will be considered by the Commission under the full route permitting process set forth in Minn. Stat. § 216E.03 and Minn. R. 7850.1700 to 7850.2700 and 7850.4000 to 7850.4400. The applicable statutes and rules require, in addition to other information, that an applicant provide at least two proposed routes in its Route Permit application.

After the Commission accepts the Route Permit application as complete, the Commission and EERA staff will jointly hold public information and scoping meetings to provide information and seek public comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared for the Project. Once the public meetings are scheduled, notice of the meetings will be provided to persons whose names are on the Project contact list and will be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation in the Project area. At this scoping meeting, and throughout a comment period after the scoping meeting, EERA will gather information from stakeholders on alternative routes, potential impacts and mitigation measures that should be evaluated in the EIS. EERA will recommend to the Commission those impacts and mitigation measures, including routes and route alternatives, that it believes should be evaluated in the EIS. EERA will issue a “Scoping Decision” that identifies the routes, impacts and mitigation measures to be evaluated in the EIS.

In addition to an EIS, public hearings on the Project will be held. Once the public hearings are scheduled, notice of the hearings will be provided to persons whose names are on the Project contact list and will be published in a legal newspaper of general circulation in the Project area. The public will be invited to make comments on the Project at these hearings before an administrative law judge. Anyone may speak at the public hearings, present documentary evidence, ask questions of the Applicants and EERA staff, and submit written comments. After the hearing, a period during which stakeholders can provide written comments on the Project will be provided. It is anticipated that the administrative law judge will prepare a report summarizing comments received during the above-described process. Following the release of the report from the administrative law judge, the Commission will deliberate and make a final decision as to the Route Permit during an open meeting, using the criteria set forth in Minn. Stat. § 216E.04, subd. 8 and Minn. R. 7850.4100 and stakeholder input received during the routing process to guide its decision.

The Commission shall make a final decision on the Application within 60 days after receipt of the report of the administrative law judge. A final decision on the request for a Route Permit shall be made within one year after the Commission’s determination that an Application is complete, according to Minn. Stat. § 216E.03, subd. 9, and Minn. R. 7850.3900, subp. 1. The Commission may extend this time limit for up to three months for just cause or upon agreement of the Applicants.

Further details regarding upcoming meetings and comment periods on the Application will be provided by EERA and/or the Commission in the future.

PROPERTY ACQUISITION

Before beginning construction, the Applicants will acquire property rights for the transmission line. The Applicants will require a new 150-foot wide right-of-way for construction and operation of the transmission lines and associated facilities. The Applicants typically will acquire these property rights through an easement that will be negotiated with the landowner for each parcel. If the Applicants and the landowner are unable to negotiate an easement for the right-of-way, the Applicants will seek to acquire real property rights through exercising the power of eminent domain pursuant to Minn. Stat. Ch. 117. The process of exercising the power of eminent domain is called condemnation.

HOW TO LEARN MORE 

For more information about the regulatory process or to have your name included on the Project mailing lists, contact:

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Staff Analyst

Sam Lobby at sam.lobby@state.mn.us or (651) 201-2205 or (800) 657-3782

www.mn.gov/puc

Minnesota Department of Commerce Environmental Review Manager

Jenna Ness at jenna.ness@state.mn.us or (651) 539-1693 or (800) 657-3710

www.mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities

There are two options for citizens, landowners, and interested persons to receive Project information:

1. Sign up for the Project Mailing List. To sign up to receive notices about Project milestones and opportunities to participate (meetings, comment periods, etc.) email eservice.admin@state.mn.us or call (651) 201-2246. If you would like to have your name added to the Route Permit mailing list email consumer.puc@state.mn.us or call (651) 296-0406 or (800) 657-3782. If you send an email or leave a phone message, please include the docket number (E017, ET10/TL 23 160), your name, mailing address and email address. You may request to receive notices by email or U.S. Mail.

2. Subscribe to the Docket. To receive email notifications when new documents are filed in the docket, visit: https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling, select Subscribe to eDockets and follow the prompts to include the docket number (E017,ET10/TL-23-160).

Note – subscribing may result in a large number of emails.

Current information about the Project and Application is available online at the Applicants’ Project website: https://www.BigStoneSouthtoAlexandria.com.

A copy of the Application is also available for review at the following public libraries within the Project area:

Ortonville Public Library Benson Public Library

412 NW 2nd Street 200 13th St N

Ortonville, MN 56278 Benson, MN 56215

Hancock Community Library Glenwood Public Library

662 6th St, P.O. Box 305 108 1st Ave SE

Hancock, MN 56244 Glenwood, MN 56334

Douglas County Library

720 Fillmore St

Alexandria, MN 56308

Additional information may be obtained by calling Jason Weiers, Otter Tail Power Company, Manager, Transmission Project Development at (218) 739-8311 or by email at jweiers@otpco.com, or the Project team at (800) 598-5587 or by email at connect@bigstonesouthtoalexandria.com.