Great River Energy is proposing to construct a 69-kV electric transmission line along Itasca County Highway 7 connecting to a new North Itasca Electric Cooperative substation northeast of Brush Shanty Lake. Reliability and low voltage concerns in the Scenic area need to be addressed. Completion of this project is designed to be a long term solution to improve electric delivery and meet new demand and growth for North Itasca Electric Cooperative members.
Quick facts
Length : 14 miles
Voltage: 69 kV
Structures: Wood poles
Pole heights: 65 to 75 feet (above ground)
Spans: 350 to 400 feet apart
Right of way: 100-foot-wide right of way, 50 feet on each side of the centerline.
Public meeting
Representatives of Great River Energy and North Itasca Electric Cooperative, Inc., held an open house meeting on Oct. 25, 2017. They provided information about the proposed project.
Schedule
Easements
Winter 2019
Construction
Summer to late fall 2020.
No work on the section that bypasses Scenic State Park will occur until permits are received from the DNR and the USACE.
Permitting/ environmental approvals
State of Minnesota and Itasca County permitting authorities do not require a route permit or conditional use permit for 69-kV projects. Great River Energy is and will continue to work closely with the U.S. Forest Service, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Itasca County Land Department to acquire the necessary federal, state and county occupation permits for the proposed route.
No work on the section that bypasses Scenic State Park will occur until permits are received from the DNR and the USACE.
Project contacts
Dale Aukee
Senior Field Representative
763-445-5978
daukee@grenergy.com
Marsha Parlow
Transmission Permitting Analyst
763-445-5215
mparlow@grenergy.com
Media contacts
Jennifer Mattson
jmattson@grenergy.com
763-445-5722
Twitter: @jennymmattson
Lori Buffington
lbuffington@grenergy.com
763-445-5714
Twitter: @lbuffing