Info sessions on Iron Range high-voltage transmission line project delayed

Editor's note: This story was updated Monday, Feb. 9, to reflect that the meetings have been postponed.

Four public meetings on a proposed transmission line between Grand Rapids and Hibbing were postponed and have not been rescheduled.

Minnesota Power announced the change on its social media Friday, Feb. 6.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission had planned to 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.