A number of public meetings will take place this week, Oct. 23- concerning the certificate of need and route permit applications for a proposed 180-mile transmission line from Itasca County to Benton County.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and state Commerce Department will host the meetings to discuss the scope of the environmental assessments to be conducted as part of the Minnesota Power and Great River Energy project.
Northland Reliability Project
The companies say as power shifts from a reliance on fossil fuels to more renewables, the regional power grid used to deliver that energy needs to change, too. The project would seek to develop a reliable, resilient and flexible grid with an investment in transmission infrastructure to enhance stability long term.
The first project segment would connect the Iron Rang Substation near Grand Rapids to a new Cuyuna Series Compensation Station near Ironton.
The proposal requires two approvals from the commission — a certificate of need and a route permit. Minnesota Power and Great River filed a combined certificate of need and route permit application with the commission on Aug. 4.
The commission subsequently determined the application was complete and initiated an environmental review and hearing process. This process will take about 12 months to complete, culminating in commission decisions.
Public meetings in the region
- Monday, Oct. 23: Spang Town Hall, 35402 Spang Road, Hill City. Doors open 5 p.m., meeting begins 6 p.m.
- Tuesday: Taconite Canteen, 240 Curtis Ave., Ironton. Doors open 10 a.m., meeting begins 11 a.m.
- Tuesday: American Legion Hall, 708 Front St., Brainerd. Doors open 5 p.m., meeting begins 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: Pierz Ballroom, 133 Main St. S., Pierz. Doors open 10 a.m., meeting begins 11 a.m.
Doors will open one hour prior to each meeting. Attendees will have an opportunity to review maps and materials for the project.
During this time, comments made by attendees will become a part of the record for commission consideration only if the attendee submits the comment in writing. Forms will be available for this purpose.
Commission and department staff, as well as staff from Great River Energy and Minnesota Power, will be available to answer questions about the project and the process.
During the public meeting, Commission and Department staff will make a presentation regarding the state’s environmental review and permitting process. After the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to offer oral and/or written comments into the record.
The same information will be presented at each meeting. Each meeting will last until everyone at the meeting has had an opportunity to speak. Comments received at the meeting and during the comment period will be used to develop the scope of the environmental assessment for this project.
Other ways to participate
An online meeting will be noon-2 p.m. Friday via WebEx. The webinar number is 2482 714 2794 and the password is PUC!2023.
Written comments on the proposal will be accepted through Nov. 21.
The PUC and Commerce Department said to focus comments on information that will help answer the following questions:
- What potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project should be studied in the environmental assessment?
- Are there methods to minimize, mitigate, or avoid these impacts that should be studied in the environmental assessment?
- Are there any alternative routes or route segments that should be studied to mitigate
potential impacts associated with the proposed project? - Are there any unique characteristics of the proposed route or the project that should be considered?
- Are there other ways to meet the stated need for the project, instead of the proposed transmission line, e.g., a different size or type of facility? If so, what alternatives to the project should be studied in the environmental assessment?
Comments may be submitted by email Jim.Sullivan@state.mn.us, online at mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/#comment, by mail to Jim Sullivan, Minnesota Department of Commerce, 85 Seventh Place East, Suite 280, St. Paul, MN, 55101.
Comments will be made available to the public via the Commission’s website, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Commission and the Department do not edit or delete personal identifying information from submissions.