Great River Energy is proud to be a leading partner of PowerOn Midwest, a historic transmission initiative that will strengthen the electric grid across the Upper Midwest. This series of new transmission line projects will help ensure long-term grid reliability and meet the region’s growing and evolving energy needs.
At the heart of this initiative is a 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission line backbone, which is the first in the Upper Midwest. One 765-kV electric transmission line can carry the same amount of power as six single-circuit 345-kV lines, which are more common in the Upper Midwest.
“This innovative technological solution is very efficient for carrying power over long distances and helps minimize impact,” said Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel.
This new infrastructure will boost grid capacity and resilience, support clean energy goals, drive economic development and strengthen regional interconnectivity.
PowerOn Midwest — which is being developed by Great River Energy in partnership with ITC Midwest, Otter Tail Power Company and Xcel Energy — will help deliver reliable energy every hour of every day, regardless of the weather, the time or day, or the source of generation. It was one of 24 high-voltage transmission projects in the Tranche 2.1 portfolio approved by MISO, the region’s grid operator, in December 2024.
“PowerOn Midwest is a critical investment for Minnesota and the entire MISO footprint. It’s part of a coordinated, multi-state effort to strengthen the grid and ensure reliability for decades to come,” Patel said. “We’re proud to lead this work knowing it benefits not only our member-owners in Minnesota, but communities across the region.”
Project partners will file an application early next year with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for a certificate of need for the project. This is one of two major permits that the partners must receive from the PUC prior to constructing PowerOn Midwest. The certificate of need examines whether the proposed facilities are necessary and what the appropriate size, configuration and timing of the project should be. Great River Energy is leading the development of the certificate of need application on behalf of all the partners.
Earlier this month, the project partners held 17 open houses in 15 counties across southern Minnesota to explain the need for the project and answer questions. The open houses marked an important milestone for Great River Energy and the partner utilities that reflect their commitment to the communities that will ultimately host the infrastructure. The meetings were designed to inform and engage the public within the study area, explain the regulatory process and let the public know how they can participate.
“As an electric cooperative, Great River Energy is deeply rooted in the communities it serves. The open houses mark the beginning of a multi-year journey to engage with stakeholders and inform them about this important project,” said Dan Lesher, manager of transmission permitting and land rights. “This first round of PowerOn Midwest open houses were a tremendous success. The level of interest and interaction we saw speaks to the value these events bring to communities in the study area.”
PowerOn Midwest is in the early stages of development and the specific route where the line will be sited has not yet been determined. There will be opportunities for the public to provide input into the route starting next year.
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