Minnesota Power and Great River Energy to Build Transmission Line to Bolster Electric Reliability in Northern Minnesota
July 25 2022 - 3:15PM
Business Wire
Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE Inc. (NYSE: ALE),
and Great River Energy today announced their intent to build an
approximately 150-mile, double-circuit 345-kV transmission line
from northern Minnesota to central Minnesota near Becker that will
support grid reliability in the Upper Midwest.
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The planned transmission line will run
from Minnesota Power’s Iron Range Substation in Itasca County to
Great River Energy’s Benton County Substation in Benton County, and
then replace an existing Great River Energy transmission line from
Benton County to a new substation in Sherburne County. (Graphic:
Business Wire)
The transmission line will run from Minnesota Power’s Iron Range
Substation in Itasca County to Great River Energy’s Benton County
Substation in Benton County, and then replace an existing Great
River Energy transmission line from Benton County to a new
substation in Sherburne County. The Sherburne County substation
will be built as part of a separate project.
Minnesota Power, an investor-owned public utility, and Great
River Energy, a wholesale electric power cooperative, expect to
file a Notice of Intent to Construct, Own and Maintain the
transmission line with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
(MPUC) in early August.
This joint project is one of a portfolio of transmission
projects approved July 25 by the region’s grid operator, the
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), as part of the
first phase of its Long Range Transmission Plan. In total MISO
approved 18 projects across its Midwest sub region, with six,
including the Minnesota Power/Great River Energy project, in the
Upper Midwest.
Proactive investments to maintain a reliable and resilient
regional power grid are necessary as more low-cost renewable energy
is brought online, existing power plants are retired,
electrification continues to grow and extreme weather events become
more frequent.
“Investing in transmission resources is a critical component of
our EnergyForward strategy for building a carbon-free energy future
while maintaining the reliable service our customers and
communities expect,” said Josh Skelton, Minnesota Power chief
operating officer. “This joint project with Great River Energy will
ensure that the regional power grid our customers depend on will
continue to be reliable and flexible as we navigate a changing
energy mix for Minnesota Power and in the broader MISO region.”
Utilities across the region are significantly increasing the
amount of renewable energy they provide to their customers. Great
River Energy will more than double the amount of renewable energy,
primarily wind energy, in its portfolio by 2025 and reduce its
carbon emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels in the next 10
years. Minnesota Power was the first utility in the state to
deliver 50% renewable energy to its customers in 2021 and envisions
delivering 100% carbon-free energy by 2050.
“Building the right transmission will ensure continued
reliability as we transition our energy mix, prepare for increased
electrification and build in more resilience to extreme weather and
other consequential events,” said Priti Patel, vice president and
chief transmission officer for Great River Energy. “The right
transmission will ensure we can make the transition to more
low-cost renewable energy and maintain the reliability our members
expect.”
Planning for the approximately $970 million transmission line is
in its early stages. Subject to board approval, the two companies
intend to seek a Certificate of Need and Route Permit from the MPUC
in late 2023. The MPUC will determine need and the final route and
separately review cost recovery for Minnesota Power’s share of the
project. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transmission line is
estimated to be in service by 2030.
Minnesota Power and Great River Energy will begin coordinating
with landowners, local governments, agencies, Tribal Nations and
tribal organizations, and other interested parties in late 2022 and
early 2023. Engagement opportunities including open house meetings
and workshops will offer the project community an opportunity to
ask questions and provide input on the project planning and
routing.
Great River Energy, Maple Grove, Minnesota, is a not-for-profit
wholesale electric power cooperative that provides electricity to
28 member-owner distribution cooperatives, serving more than
720,000 member-consumers. Great River Energy owns and operates more
than 4,400 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. The
organization is on track to meet Minnesota’s goal to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions 80% from 2005 levels approximately two decades
before the 2050 target. Learn more at greatriverenergy.com.
Minnesota Power provides electric service within a
26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting
comfort, security and quality of life for 145,000 customers, 14
municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the
United States. More information can be found at www.mnpower.com.
ALE-CORP
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.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220725005764/en/
Amy Rutledge Manager Corporate Communications Minnesota
Power/ALLETE 218-348-2961 arutledge@mnpower.com Lori Buffington
Leader, Communications Great River Energy 763-486-9266
lbuffington@grenergy.com
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