Community voices drive conversation

Hundreds of Minnesotans attend scoping meetings, provide feedback on PowerOn Midwest

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) held 10 in-person and one online public information and environmental report scoping meeting for the PowerOn Midwest projects from April 21- 30. These meetings were part of the state’s certificate of need process and saw more than 700 people in attendance.

The scoping meetings were held across southern Minnesota within the project’s notice area. They provided the public with a formal opportunity to comment on the need for the project and to influence the scope of the environmental report.

PowerOn Midwest is a series of new electric transmission projects anchored by a 765-kilovolt backbone transmission line being developed by Great River Energy, ITC Midwest, Otter Tail Power Company and Xcel Energy.

The projects will connect eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and the broader region, enhancing grid reliability in the Upper Midwest to meet growing and evolving energy needs in the coming decades. Great River Energy is leading the certificate of need development on behalf of all the utilities.

A one-hour open house was held at the start of each meeting, allowing attendees to review maps and materials for the project and ask questions. During the formal public meeting, PUC staff shared information about the state’s certificate of need and environmental report processes.

Great River Energy Director of Transmission Planning and Compliance Matt Ellis then spoke on behalf of the applicants and provided a summary of the proposed project. Attendees were then given the opportunity to offer comments on the record.

The public comment period is open until May 20. Then, PUC staff will work on an environmental report as part of the certificate of need application review process.

Next, public hearings will be held throughout the proposed project area to discuss the findings of the report.