Minnesota Power’s Great Northern Transmission Line Cited by White House as Leading Example of Building 21st Century Infrast...
May 14 2014 - 4:42PM
Business Wire
The White House issued a press release today applauding the
United States Department of Energy’s (DOE) involvement in Minnesota
Power’s Great Northern Transmission Line project as an example of
President Obama’s renewed effort to accelerate and modernize the
federal infrastructure permitting process.
Minnesota Power, an ALLETE Company, applied last month to the
DOE for the Presidential Permit and also filed a route permit
application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for the
500-kilovolt line. Even before submitting these applications,
Minnesota Power was closely coordinating with the DOE on the Great
Northern Transmission Line. The project requires a Presidential
Permit from the DOE because the transmission line will cross the
international border between Manitoba and Minnesota and the DOE is
the lead federal agency. The Great Northern Transmission Line will
facilitate the delivery of at least 750 megawatts (MW) of renewable
hydro power into the U.S. Beginning in 2020; Minnesota Power will
use the line to deliver 250 MW from Manitoba Hydro to Minnesota’s
Iron Range through a power purchase agreement approved by state
regulators in 2012.
According to the release issued by the President’s Office of the
Press Secretary, “the Administration is taking action to modernize
the federal infrastructure permitting process, cutting through red
tape and getting more timely decisions, while protecting our
communities and the environment. . . President Obama has laid out
his vision for a long-term infrastructure bill that would provide
certainty for our state and local partners, support millions of
jobs, and position our economy for lasting growth.”
The Great Northern Transmission Line was the first project
listed in today’s White House release as an example of how “key
reforms” are already underway. It stated the DOE initiated monthly
meetings with other agencies and Minnesota Power “to ensure early
coordination.” Since 2012, Minnesota Power has held more than 75
open houses and meetings with agencies, tribes, local government
units, landowners and the general public to gather input on the
routing of the transmission line project.
“Through these early coordination meetings,” the White House
release said, “the company was able to narrow down potential
corridors to two routes in their application which address agency
concerns and will facilitate a more efficient review process.” Two
alternative routes of about 220 miles have been proposed for the
line.
“To have our Great Northern Transmission Line mentioned in this
context is an affirmation of our company’s shared purpose in
action,” said Al Hodnik, Chairman, President and CEO of ALLETE. “We
are doing so much more than simply building a 500-kV line from
Manitoba to Blackberry, Minn. We are doing our part to transform
the nation’s energy landscape in the name of stewardship,
reliability and also affordability while growing ALLETE and its
energy businesses.”
Minnesota Power provides electric service within a
26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting
comfort, security and quality of life for 143,000 customers, 16
municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the
United States. More information can be found at
www.mnpower.com.
The statements contained in this release and statements that
ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not
historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in
documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Minnesota Power/ALLETEAmy Rutledge, 218-723-7400Manager -
Corporate Communicationsarutledge@mnpower.com
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