The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will host public information and scoping meetings Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 10-12, on the route permit application for the Iron Range-St. Louis County-Arrowhead 345-kilovolt transmission project.
Minnesota Power and American Transmission Co. LLC are proposing to construct approximately 67.5 miles of transmission line from Minnesota Power's Iron Range Substation near Grand Rapids to Minnesota Power's St. Louis County Substation near Hermantown. It will also include a connection to American Transmission Co.'s nearby Arrowhead Substation along portions of Itasca and St. Louis counties.
The route proposed is located along, and in some cases replaces, existing high-voltage transmission lines for 92% of its length. New transmission lines will be required to connect the existing substations in Grand Rapids and Hermantown. Existing substations would also require expansions.
The purpose of the public meetings is to provide information about the proposed project and the state's permitting process, and to accept public comments.
Public comments will help determine the need for and scope of an addendum to the environmental assessment included in the application, the need for special permit conditions, and the scope of an environmental report to be prepared by Commission staff.
Public meetings
- Hermantown: Tuesday, Feb. 10, Aad Shrine Meeting and Event Center, 5152 Miller Trunk Highway. Doors open 5 p.m., meeting is 6-8 p.m.
- Floodwood: Wednesday, Feb. 11, Downtown Fair Center, 107 W. Seventh Ave. Doors open 11 a.m., meeting is noon-2 p.m.
- Grand Rapids: Wednesday, Feb. 11, Timberlake Lodge, 144 SE 17th St. Doors open 5 p.m., meeting is 6-8 p.m.
- Online: 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, via WebEx. Webinar number is 2486 574 7269. Webinar password is MnPUC! (or 667820 when dialing from a phone or video system). Join by phone at 1-855-282-6330. The toll free access code is 2486 574 7269.
Alternative meeting dates and times are provided in the notice in the case of cancellations due to inclement weather.
To find out if a meeting is canceled, call 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213, or visit mn.gov/puc.
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