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Robin Jacob / CC

19 utility projects expected to add transmission line relief in Greater MN

By Michael Achterling Oct 12, 2023 | 10:38 AM

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Grid North Partners says utility grid congestion has become a problem, particularly in the western part of the state, and it is working on 19 projects to fix the issue.

Two of those 19 transmission line projects are located in Otter Tail County and include a 2-mile connection between Hoot Lake and Fergus Falls, and another 34-mile project that will connect Inman, Parkers Prairie and Alexandria.

New solar and wind energy is coming online quickly, faster than the existing transmission infrastructure can handle. Grid North Partners consists of 10 companies, including Xcel Energy. 

Great River Energy and Minnesota Power are installing a 230-kilovolt line stretching 51 miles from Mud Lake in Crow Wing County south to Benton County. All 19 projects organized by Grid North Partners total $130 million. 

The projects are expected to be completed within three years.

Project Length (mi) Owner Counties

  • CapX2020 Brookings 2nd 345 kV Circuit 60 Xcel Energy/GRE/OTP/ MRES/CMPAS Lincoln, Lyon
  • CapX2020 Helena 2nd 345 kV Circuit 39 Xcel Energy/GRE/OTP/ MRES/CMPAS Scott, Dakota
  • Hoot Lake-Fergus Falls 115 kV 2 OTP/MRES Otter Tail
  • Morris-Grant County 115 kV 24 MRES Grant, Stevens
  • Franklin-Ft Ridgely-Swan Lake 115 kV 39 Xcel Energy Nicollet
  • Swan Lake-Wilmarth 115 kV 16 Xcel Energy Nicollet
  • Red Rock-Raptor 115 kV 7 Xcel Energy Washington
  • AAR* – Johnson Jct.-Morris 115 kV 15 GRE/OTP Big Stone, Stevens
  • Canby-Granite Falls 115 kV 39 OTP Yellow, Medicine
  • AAR* – Inman-Elmo-Parkers Prairie-Miltona-Alexandria 115 kV 34 GRE/OTP Otter Tail, Douglas
  • AAR* – Mud Lake-Benton 230 kV 51 GRE/MP Crow Wing, Morrison, Benton
  • Rogers Lake-High Bridge 115 kV 0.5 Xcel Energy Ramsey, Dakota
  • Wakefield-St. Cloud 115 kV 18 Xcel Energy Stearns
  • Pleasant Valley-Byron 161 kV 17 Xcel Energy/GRE/SMMPA Mower, Dodge, Olmsted
  • Big Stone-Blair 230 kV 33 OTP Grant, Deuel (SD)
  • Coon Creek-Terminal 345 kV 14 Xcel Energy Anoka, Ramsey
  • Coon Creek-Kohlman Lake 345 kV 20 Xcel Energy Anoka, Ramsey
  • AAR* – Forbes-Iron Range 230 kV 34 MP St. Louis, Itasca
  • AAR* – Blackberry-Riverton 230 kV 67 MP Crow Wing, Aitkin, Itasca

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