Great River Energy and its project partners ITC Midwest and Xcel Energy reached an important milestone with the filing of the PowerOn Midwest Certificate of Need application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This is the first of two key regulatory approvals required before construction can begin.
PowerOn Midwest is a series of new electric transmission projects anchored by a 765-kilovolt (kV) backbone transmission line that will connect to the transmission grid in eastern South Dakota and northwestern Iowa, travel across southern Minnesota and connect to the broader regional grid. In Minnesota, the 765-kV line will connect the Lakefield Junction, Pleasant Valley and North Rochester substations in Jackson, Mower and Olmsted counties.
These projects are essential to move large volumes of electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s needed, ensuring reliable energy delivery in all seasons, at all times. This new infrastructure can accommodate energy from all sources — helping communities thrive as energy needs change.
“Reaching this point reflects not only our progress, but our shared commitment to preparing Minnesota’s grid for the future,” said Great River Energy’s Priti Patel, vice president and chief transmission officer. “We’re building the kind of long-term, reliable infrastructure that our members expect and deserve, and I’m grateful for the collaboration that continues to move PowerOn Midwest forward.”
This new infrastructure will help ensure reliable, affordable electricity for homes, farms and businesses, while supporting economic growth and improving access to lower-cost energy resources across the Upper Midwest.
Leadership in the process
Great River Energy led the development of the certificate of need application on behalf of all of the project partners. The purpose of the certificate of need is to confirm that the transmission lines are needed for reliable energy service and are the most prudent option. The PUC will make the final decision on the certificate of need after a review process — typically lasting about 12 to 18 months — by the Department of Commerce that includes public hearings.
Looking ahead
As PowerOn Midwest advances through the next phase of Minnesota’s regulatory process, the project partners will continue engaging with member cooperatives, community leaders, landowners and stakeholders across the study area to seek input that will help determine the best line route to propose in their future Route Permit application, which will be filed with the PUC in 2027.
Subject to regulatory approvals, the project partners expect construction of the transmission line to begin by 2030 and the line to be operational in 2034. For more information, visit poweronmidwest.com.
Further involvement in MISO’s Tranche 2.1
The PowerOn Midwest projects were approved in December of 2024 by MISO, the region’s grid operator, as part of the Tranche 2.1 project portfolio. Great River Energy is also involved in two other projects in that portfolio, the Fargo to Alexandria and Maple River to Cuyuna projects. Both of those projects also recently met the certificate of need filing milestone, and all three projects aim to strengthen reliability, support future growth and deliver long-term value for the Upper Midwest.
Fargo to Alexandria
Xcel Energy is leading the Fargo to Alexandria project development and applied to the PUC for a certificate of need on Jan. 15. Other partners include Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Missouri River Energy Services and Otter Tail Power Company.
The project includes adding a second transmission line circuit to the existing power line that runs mainly along Interstate 94 between Fargo and Alexandria. This project takes advantage of past forward-looking planning efforts—allowing the partners to install a second set of conductors on existing infrastructure without significant new impacts as the region’s capacity needs increase. All new infrastructure, including up to 100 new structures, will be added within the existing project right-of-way, minimizing impacts to landowners.
The Fargo to Alexandria second circuit project will help enhance electric reliability and improve system resiliency in the Upper Midwest.
Learn more at fargotoalexandria.com.
Maple River to Cuyuna
Minnesota Power is leading the overall development of the Maple River to Cuyuna project, which will also be owned and developed by Great River Energy and Otter Tail Power Company. The certificate of need application was filed with the PUC on Jan. 30.
This new transmission line project will span approximately 170 miles between the Cuyuna Substation near Riverton, Minnesota, and the Maple River Substation near Fargo, North Dakota. The 345-kV double-circuit line — initially operated as a single circuit — will strengthen grid reliability across northern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota and improve the efficiency and flexibility of moving energy from where it is generated to where it is needed.
The project partners held 18 open houses last year to gather public input and will host another round in late March as they refine a proposed route. The utilities expect to submit a Route Permit application to the PUC later in 2026.
Visit mrctransmissionproject.com for more information.
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