Legislative Update
Greetings Neighbor,
Last night I had the opportunity to attend a hearing for the PowerOn Midwest hearing in Wells, MN. The purpose of this series of hearings for PowerOn Midwest will confirm or deny the Certificate of Need for the transmission line. Specifically, this series of hearings will not address the actual routing for the transmission line; however, the routing is generally understood to be in the vicinity of Interstate 90 from the South Dakota border to Rochester where it will turn north and terminate at the North Rochester Substation. Per the meeting last night, the Administrative Law Judge anticipates transmitting his report to the MN Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on February 15th, 2027.
Per an overview slide provided by the Administrative Law team, the MN PUC will grant or deny the Certificate of Need (CON) based on the following four questions:
1. Is the project needed to maintain an adequate, reliable, and efficient energy supply?
2. Is there a more reasonable and prudent alternative?
3. Do the project’s benefits justify its potential impacts on people, communities, and the environment?
4. Can it be designed, built, and operated consistent with State, federal, and local requirements?
The Administrative Law Judge made a key point during the opening presentation: Data Center growth was not considered as part of the original MISO Tranche 2.1 justification for this transmission line.
I encourage everyone to review the project references here.
Specifically, the preliminary schedule calls for filing the Certificate of Need, PUC Review Process, route development, and filing of Route Permit applications with the PUC in 2026-2027, if the Certificate of Need is approved.
Ongoing easement acquisition, pre-construction activities, construction, and restoration will occur from 2030-2024.
Overall in-service dates will vary from 2032-2034 by segment following construction and commissioning.
Whether or not I am selected for the Energy committee again, I will be watching this project closely as more and more transmission power lines will be needed to achieve the 2023 Carbon Free mandate by 2040. Achieving the Carbon Free by 2040 mandate will impact all of us as we pay higher electric utility bills to pay for more wind and solar energy, adding battery energy storage, and additional backup generation when wind, solar, and battery storage is not available. Please see this link for a summary of the requirements passed in 2023.
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