Manager Connection - PowerOn Midwest

By Kelly Hovel

Recently the communities in our region have played host to informational meetings, comment sessions and open houses related to the proposed transmission build-out across the Midwest.  Those conversations often come with questions, concerns, and many times controversy.  Where are they going?  Why do we need them?  How can I make sure my voice is heard and my questions are answered?

In our region there are a couple of major transmission projects in the works.  The Mankato to the Mississippi project, which runs from the north side of Mankato to the east along the southern edge of Faribault and on to the north side of Pine Island. It is 120 miles of 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line.  Public meetings were held across the region over the past two years, and the MN Public Utilities Commission approved the certificate of need and the route permit this past February.   

PowerOn Midwest, a group of major transmission projects anchored by a 765‑kilovolt (kV) line, is the other. This project is in the midst of public meetings, some of which are happening right now in August, aimed at finalizing a route that will connect eastern South Dakota, Minnesota and the broader Upper Midwest, helping move electricity where it’s needed, when it’s needed.  This line does not have a final route but considers multiple paths along southern MN through Martin, Faribault, Freeborn, and Mower counties.

Both projects are designed to make sure the grid can keep up with growing demand while supporting a more reliable and flexible energy system. Mankato to the Mississippi is an Xcel Energy led project (it also includes Dairyland Power, Rochester Public Utilities, and Southern Minnesota Municipal Power) and PowerOn Midwest is being developed by Great River Energy (project lead), ITC Midwest and Xcel Energy. 

The need is based on studies conducted by MISO (Midwest Independent System Operator), the organization that manages our regional grid. As energy use across the region increases, older power plants retire and new generation comes online, stronger transmission is what keeps everything connected, reliable and affordable. Without it, we risk bottlenecks that raise costs and limit our ability to serve the homes, farms and businesses that depend on us.  We already see that congestion impacting energy costs in the region today when wind generation must be curtailed because there is no room for the energy on the current transmission system. 

The PowerOn Midwest project alone will enable more than 12,000 megawatts of new wind, solar, storage and natural gas generation in Minnesota. This expanded capacity will support a diverse energy mix, unlock existing generation that is currently constrained by transmission limitations and help attract private investment in the region’s growing energy sector. 

For our power supplier, Great River Energy, the project is also about creating value for the cooperatives and communities it serves.

“Projects like PowerOn Midwest are ultimately about delivering long-term value for our member-owners,” said Great River Energy Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel. “By strengthening the grid and enabling access to a diverse mix of energy resources, we’re helping ensure reliable, affordable electricity for the communities that depend on us every day.”

I know a project of this scale raises important questions, and your voice belongs in this process. If you have questions or concerns about either transmission project — whether about the project itself, land rights, land use, or anything else — I encourage you to make them known. Please visit the Mankato to the Mississippi website at www.mmrtproject.com or the PowerOn Midwest website at www.PowerOnMidwest.com and submit your comments and concerns directly via the Contact Us page on those sites. There are also mailing lists and an information line available for each.  This is the most direct way to make sure your questions are heard and answered.  Those sites also contain all of the information about the project including timelines, routes, landowner fact sheets, and even EMF materials. 

I encourage you to stay engaged and informed.  Take advantage of the resources provided on the transmission websites and ask questions.  For our part, we will continue to look out for our members when it comes to safety, rates, and reliability.  Our focus will always be you: the member-owner.