Location: Cottage Grove, Washington
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: October 5, 2026
Notice title: Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Draft Permit (IP7180/ESS-26-184)
Notice description: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on LSP CG Storage, LLC’s (Applicant) proposed 80-megawatt (MW)/320 megawatt hours (MWh) battery energy storage system in Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota. The project is proposed to be located on industrial land entirely within the existing LSP Cottage Grove Cogeneration Facility. The project will connect to the existing 115 kV transmission system via the existing LSP Cottage Grove Cogeneration Facility substation bus bar. Construction is proposed to begin in Q2 of 2027 with commercial operation in Q2 2028.
Project description: LSP CG Storage, LLC proposes to construct and operate the Cottage Grove BESS project, a battery energy storage system (BESS) and associated facilities with a nominal power rating of up to 80 megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) with approximately 320 megawatt-hours (MWh) of nameplate capacity in Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota. The project is proposed to be located on industrial land entirely within the existing LSP Cottage Grove Cogeneration Facility. Associated facilities will include a project substation, a gen tie line, laydown yard, and other temporary facilities. The project will connect to the 115 kV transmission system via the existing LSP Cottage Grove Cogeneration Facility substation bus bar. You may find information on the project, including the application, the environmental assessment and the Commission’s draft permit, on the Commission's project webpage and on the Commissions eDocket system via eDocket Number 26-184.
Location of public documents: Cottage Grove Service Center, 13000 Ravine Parkway South Cottage Grove, MN 55016
First public meeting date, time, location: September 23, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Glacial Park Building, 9900 Ravine Parkway, Cottage Grove, MN, 55016
First public meeting additional details: If any reasonable accommodation is needed to enable you to fully participate in these hearings, please contact the Commission at 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782 at least one week before the hearing. To find out if a hearing is canceled due to bad weather or other reason, call 1-855-731-6208 or visit the Commission's website.
Second public meeting date, time, location: September 24, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: The hearing ends when all present attendees have commented or at 8:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Please arrive at the start time to ensure participation.
Webinar Number: 2488 577 3860
Webinar Password: Cottage2026
Join by Phone: +1-415-655-0003
Toll Access Code: 2488 577 3860
If you are joining the hearing via WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the hearing, use the raised-hand function or the chat function to send a message to the hearing moderator. If you are joining the hearing by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments. Additional information and instructions are available at the Commission's meetings webpage.
Both public meetings additional information: The public hearings will be presided over by a member of the Commission's senior staff. Senior staff will provide the Commission with a summary of public testimony following close of the comment period. The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the site permit application. Specifically, interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of state staff and the applicant; (2) offer verbal and written comments on the merits of the proposed project; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in the site permit.
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Jessica Livingston, 651-539-1068
Location: Floodwood, Itasca, Saint Louis
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: October 5, 2026
Notice title: Notice of Public Hearings, Availability of Draft Permit and Environmental Review Document (E015/CN-25-111; E015/TL-25-112)
Notice description: Please take notice that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold four (4) public hearings on the proposed Iron Range – St. Louis County – Arrowhead 345 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Project (project) in St. Louis and Itasca County, Minnesota. There will be three in-person hearings and one virtual (WebEx) hearing. The Commission issued an environmental assessment (EA) addendum and Environmental Report (ER) for the project. The purpose of the EA addendum is to evaluate any alternatives or impacts identified in the scoping decision. The purpose of the ER is to analyze the human and environmental impacts of system alternatives to the project.
Project description: Minnesota Power and American Transmission Company, LLC propose to construct approximately 67.5 miles of transmission line from Minnesota Power's Iron Range Substation near Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Minnesota Power's St. Louis County Substation near Hermantown, Minnesota, with a connection to American Transmission Company's nearby Arrowhead Substation along portions of Itasca and St. Louis Counties. The route proposed is located along, and in some cases replaces, existing high-voltage transmission lines for 92 percent of its length. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Grand Rapids and Hermantown. Existing substations would also require expansions. Additional information can be found on the Commission's project webpage or by going to the Commission's eDocket system via docket number 25-111 or 25-112.
Location of public documents: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place E, Saint Paul, MN 55101
First public meeting date, time, location: September 21, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Timberlake Lodge, 144 SE 17th Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Second public meeting date, time, location: September 22, 2026, 12:00 p.m., Downtown Fair Center, 107 W. 7th Ave, Floodwood, MN 55736
Third public meeting date, time, location: September 22, 2026, 6:00 p.m., AAD Shrine Meeting and Event Center, 5152 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown, MN 55811
Fourth public meeting date, time, location: September 23, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Fourth public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Fourth public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2486 986 2651
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-415-655-0003
Toll Free Access Code: 2486 986 2651
If you are joining the hearing via WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the meeting, use the chat or raised-hand functions to send a message to the meeting moderator. If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments. Additional information and instructions are available at the Commission's meetings webpage.
All public meetings additional information: The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the route permit application. Specifically, interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of state staff and the Applicant; (2) offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in the route permit. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to each in-person hearing to provide attendees an opportunity to review documents, maps, and other materials for the proposed project and ask questions of state staff and the Applicant.
The first in-person public hearing will be in Grand Rapids, MN and begin at 6PM and has a posted end time of 9PM. The second in-person public hearing will be in Floodwood, MN and begin at 12PM and has a posted end time of 3PM, and the third in-person hearing will be in Hermantown, MN and begin at 6PM and has a posted end time of 9PM. The hearings will end when all attendees have had an opportunity to provide comments or when the posted end times are reached, whichever occurs first. Please arrive at the start time to ensure participation.
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Emily Johnson, 651-539-1023
Location: Mankato, Blue Earth
Process: Alternative review
End of comment period: October 5, 2026
Notice title: Notice of Public Hearings and Availability of Draft Permit (IP7178/ESS-26-158)
Notice description: In the Matter of the Application of Mankato Energy Center, LLC for the up to 30 Megawatt (MW) Mankato Battery Energy Storage System in Blue Earth County, Minnesota. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) will hold public hearings on the site permit application of Mankato Energy Storage Center, LLC (MEC or applicant) for the proposed 30 megawatt (MW)/60 megawatt-hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Blue Earth County, Minnesota.
Project description: The Applicant proposes to construct a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility with a nominal power rating of up to 30 megawatts (MW) with approximately 60 megawatt-hours (MWh) of nameplate capacity. The project would be located within the existing 25.3 acre Mankato Energy Center, a 720 MW natural gas combined cycle power plant. If permitted, the project would begin construction in Q2 of 2027 with a commercial operation date in Q3 of 2028. The project would include battery storage enclosures, medium voltage skids, underground electrical collection lines, stand-alone switchgear, step down transformer, a short underground 115 kV gen-tie line (less than 800 feet in length) and other associated BESS components. You may find information on the project, including the application and environmental assessment and the Commission's draft permit, at the Commission's project webpage or by going to the Commission's eDocket system via eDocket Number 26-158.
Location of public documents: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 121 7th Place East, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101
First public meeting date, time, location: September 22, 2026, 6:00 p.m., AmericInn by Wyndham Event Center, 240 Stadium Road, Mankato, MN 56001
Second public meeting date, time, location: September 24, 2026, 6:00 p.m., Online meeting
Second public meeting virtual link: Join online meeting
Second public meeting additional details: Webinar Number: 2483 179 1717
Webinar Password: MNPUC (66782 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-415-655-0003
Access Code: 2483 179 1717
If you are joining the hearing via WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the hearing, use the raised-hand function or the chat function to send a message to the hearing moderator. If you are joining the hearing by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments. Additional information and instructions are available at the Commission's meetings webpage.
Both public meetings additional information: The public hearings will be presided over by senior Commission staff, Desiree Morningstar, who will provide the Commission with a summary of public testimony. The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the site permit application. Specifically, interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of state staff and the applicant; (2) offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project; and (3) suggest possible changes to the draft permit, including revised or new conditions to be considered for inclusion in the site permit.
Comments received at the hearings and during the comment period will be used to inform the record and help the Commission make its final decision. The presentations by Commission staff and the applicant will be the same at the in-person and online hearings. The hearings will end when all present attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or at the scheduled end time of the hearing, whichever occurs first. Accordingly, it is recommended that all interested persons arrive at the scheduled start time. Members of the public may participate without the necessity of intervening as a party; representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required.
Comment period: written comments will be accepted through October 5, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket number in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission. Topics for Public Comment: Should the Public Utilities Commission grant a site permit for the proposed Mankato Energy Center BESS Project? If granted, what additional conditions or requirements should be included in the site permit?
Responsible governmental unit and contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission,
Cezar Panait, 651-201-2207
