To address reliability concerns and increase the load serving capability of the existing transmission system between Audubon and Rush Lake in west central Minnesota, Great River Energy and Otter Tail Power Company, in collaboration with other neighboring utilities propose to construct a new substation and a new 115-kV transmission line in Becker and Otter Tail counties. This project will reduce risks associated with low-voltage and transmission line overloading and ensure continued reliable service to customers in the future. A route permit must be issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission before the project can be constructed.
The proposed project will include constructing a 230/115-kV substation called Erie northwest of the intersection of the existing Audubon to Hubbard 230-kV and its intersection with 360th Avenue in Height of Land Township. A new 115-kV transmission line will also be constructed to connect the new Erie Substation to Great River Energy’s existing Frazee Substation.
Specifically, the project will entail:
• Otter Tail Power constructing and owning the new 230/115-kV Erie Substation and connecting it to the existing Xcel Energy 230-kV line.
• Great River Energy constructing and owning approximately 9.4 miles of new 115-kV transmission line, potentially with some distribution underbuild, between the Erie and Frazee substations. Approximately 1.7 miles will be double circuited with Great River Energy’s existing 41.6-kV line.
State permitting process
The next step in the state permitting process is a scoping meeting. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Minnesota Department of Commerce will hold a virtual public information and environmental assessment scoping meeting on the route permit.
6 p.m.
Oct. 22, 2020
Remote-Access telephone and/or internet
To provide verbal comments, you must join the meeting via telephone.
Join by telephone | Join by internet (video only – no audio) |
Phone: 1-866-609-6127 Conference ID: 9967917 An operator will assist you. |
Navigate on your computer to: https://minnesota.webex.com Event Number: 146 586 8082 Password, if needed: MnPUC! |
Visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce website to view a project overview, key documents and learn about other opportunities to provide feedback about the project.
Transmission line length: 9.4 miles
Voltage: 41.6 kV and 115 kV
Structures: 60 to 90-foot tall wood or steel poles
Length: 300 to 400 feet apart
Right-of-way width: 100-foot-wide right of way, 50 feet on each side of the centerline
Permits: MN Public Utilities Commission route permit
Representatives of Great River Energy and Otter Tail Power Company will host an open house from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Feb 13 at the Frazee Event Center (114 North Lake Street, Frazee, Minnesota). No formal presentation will be given. Attendees are encouraged to come anytime during the hours indicated.
Spring 2021 - Spring 2022
Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
In service spring 2023
Great River Energy and Otter Tail Power will submit a route permit application for the proposed project to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC). During the route permit process, the public and regulatory agencies will have numerous opportunities to provide input on the proposed project, including public meetings facilitated by the PUC and Department of Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis (DOC EERA) staff. The DOC EERA will prepare an environmental assessment for the project. Construction cannot begin until an approved route permit is granted by the PUC.
Mark Strohfus, Environmental Project Lead
Great River Energy
763-445-5210
mstrohfu@grenergy.com
Peter M. Schaub, Sr. Field Representative, Land Rights
Great River Energy
(763) 445-5976
pschaub@grenergy.com
Todd Langston, Manager, Transmission Construction and Maintenance
Otter Tail Power Company
(218)739-8679
tlangston@otpco.com
Jennifer Mattson
jmattson@grenergy.com
763-445-5722
Twitter: @jennymmattson
Lori Buffington
lbuffington@grenergy.com
763-445-5714
Twitter: @lbuffing