BAGLEY — The Minnesota Department of Commerce finalized a grant contract with the Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative earlier this month for a project to improve grid reliability.
The finalization comes after June's hurricane-strength windstorm in northwestern Minnesota led to widespread damage to key infrastructure.
The commerce department stated Clearwater-Polk's project will improve capacity and reliability and reduce outage times. It is intended to bring lasting grid resiliency to a rural region spanning 1,500 square miles.
According to a form submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy, the planned project includes construction of 6 miles of underground power line. The line would connect two substations between Huntsville and Fisher, just east of Grand Forks.
The funding comes from the State Electric Grid Resilience Grants Program. The $5.3 million program awards up to a quarter-million in funds to entities with resiliency projects.
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Contributed/Wesley Tingey via UnsplashJordan Zempel, 35, of Apple Valley, faces a third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEDaniel Dale of Hoyt Lakes made his first court appearance May 19, 2026, on the upgraded felony charge. He remains in custody in the St. Louis County Jail. -
Contributed/Minnesota Incident Command SystemAccurate mapping of the fire perimeter led to the fire size increasing to 356 acres. The wildfire destroyed 34 structures and was caused by a power line. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe fire, which began May 16, 2026, burned around 1,666 acres in Crow Wing County. The DNR asks residents and others in the area with information to contact them.
