Northland Reliability Project

Due to MISO cost allocation, together, Great River Energy and Minnesota Power will pay 6% of the total project cost for the Northland Reliability Project. Minnesota Power has listed in the application that for their average customer, the project will add approximately $.82 - $1.14 a month to energy bills. Great River Energy expects a similar impact to cooperative members, but as a wholesale provider, Great River Energy does not set rates for end-use members. Each of Great River Energy’s 27 distribution cooperative member-owners develops their own rates based on individual costs, including allocated costs from Great River Energy. Transmission represents only 20% of Great River Energy’s total revenue requirement to its members. Further, Great River Energy pursued ownership of the project to manage transmission costs. By owning a portion of the project, Great River Energy member-owners will actually pay less for the project over the long run.

A significant economic boost is expected from the Northland Reliability Project with positive impacts on jobs and wages and about $2 billion in total impacts to Minnesota’s economy, according to a study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Labovitz School of Business and Economics. Read the study.

We followed a multi-phased routing process. The state of Minnesota has statues and rules that guide the route development process and help minimize a project’s impact to human settlement and the environment. Input from you, local leaders and agencies, as well as our technical experience and requirements, was critical in the development of the route we proposed in our application.

Our project team held nearly 30 public open houses and numerous stakeholder meetings throughout routing efforts to provide opportunities for engagement with landowners, local governments, agencies, and Tribal Nations. The collected public feedback was incorporated into the proposed route, which was approved by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

The Northland Reliability Project will ensure the power grid in northern and central Minnesota continues to operate safely and reliably as energy resources in Minnesota and the regional power system continue to evolve. As generation resources shift from fossil fuels to more renewable energy like wind and solar, the Northland Reliability Project is one part of the solution to:

• Provide system support as the use of fossil-fueled baseload generators continues to evolve.
• Facilitate increased capacity to safely and reliably deliver clean energy from where it is produced to where it is needed by our customers and members.
• Enhance system resiliency during extreme weather events.
• Plan proactively to meet changing customers’ and members’ power needs due to decarbonization and electrification.

The Northland Reliability Project will allow Minnesota Power and Great River Energy to continue delivering reliable, cleaner energy to our customers and members. This project will enhance the stability of our regional electric system and support a reliable, resilient and flexible energy grid so any type of generation, and from more locations, could be connected to meet the long-term energy needs of our customers and members. The Northland Reliability Project is part of a large portfolio of regional transmission projects approved by MISO, the region’s grid operator, in the summer of 2022. All of the projects in that portfolio work together to provide broad regional benefits in addition to local reliability benefits. While the Northland Reliability Project will directly support reliability in northern and central Minnesota, it supports reliability beyond Minnesota, as well.

Electricity is generated at power plants, wind or solar facilities and other generation sites before it is delivered across a complex, interconnected system of power lines and substations to electric customers and cooperative members. Think of transmission lines as the interstates, or the super highways of the electric system. Transmission lines carry large amounts of high-voltage electricity from generation sites to substations, where it is “stepped down” to lower voltages so it can be delivered across the electric distribution system, and can be safely used at homes, farms and businesses.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the Certificate of Need and Route Permit for Minnesota Power and Great River Energy’s jointly owned high-voltage transmission line to bolster electric reliability in northern and central Minnesota and support the regional clean energy transition. Visit the library for more information on the regulatory process.

There may be temporary lane and/or road closures throughout the project area during construction. These closures will be communicated in advance and will be permitted by the designated road use authorities.

Similar to other 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines recently built in Minnesota, the Northland Reliability Project will typically use a single-pole steel structure with three phases of wires on each side of the structure. This design is proven to withstand high winds and provide capacity to support the development of a reliable, resilient and flexible energy grid. Read the Typical Structures handout to learn more.

The length of time we work at any individual property or in any area depends on several factors, some of which are beyond our control (like weather). We are very early in the process. Construction schedules will vary based on the final route and structure types.

We will work with businesses and residents prior to and during construction to minimize impacts. Please let our team know of areas of concern or typical routes or trails you use on your property so we can take those items into consideration prior to and during construction.

Existing roads and field access will be used to the extent practical. Typically maintenance crews will travel the easement for line reviews. Temporary roads may be used for construction.

Right-of-entry agreements grant temporary access prior to an easement and in support of field work necessary for the permitting, surveying and design phases of the project.

When people talk about building new transmission lines, they often refer to an "easement" or a "right-of-way (ROW)." Although the terms are used interchangeably, they are distinct concepts. An easement is a land right document, and a ROW is the physical land upon which the facilities are located.

A ROW is typically a strip of land used for a specific purpose such as the construction, operation and maintenance of a road or transmission line. ROW is typically secured as an easement on a property.

An easement is a document allowing Minnesota Power and Great River Energy the right to construct, operate and maintain a transmission line and other associated infrastructure on a landowner's property. Terms of the easement are written in the easement agreement. Most electric utility easements are perpetual and not subject to termination or expiration. Once an easement is signed, it becomes part of the property record. The utility, the landowner who signed the easement, and all future property owners are bound by the agreement terms.

The easement restricts the placement of buildings and structures within the easement area for safety and reliability and provides rights for access as well as clearing and removal of vegetation. Our project team will coordinate with landowners prior to construction. Additionally, easements stay with a property even if the ownership of a property changes.

In general, the land can continue to be used as before, provided that the use does not interfere with the construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission line. This includes hunting and fishing, but note that no structures are allowed within the ROW, including deer stands.

You can farm up to the base of the transmission line structure and underneath the line. The public should exercise appropriate caution when operating equipment around any power line. The use of larger vehicles in proximity to any line requires additional review and such equipment should only be operated by qualified operators in accordance with OSHA safe work rules.

Minnesota Power and Great River Energy encourage landowners on the final approved route to discuss the activities they plan to conduct in the easement area with a land agent.

Market values are determined by sales studies conducted throughout the project area. These market values will be used to identify a per-acre value for the easement offer. Landowners will be offered a one-time payment based on fair market value for easement rights to their land.

To the extent practicable, the project team designed the route to maximize separation from homes and businesses. We do not anticipate having structures within our 150-foot-wide right-of-way.

The length of time we work at any individual property or in any area depends on several factors, some of which are beyond our control (like weather).

We will work with businesses and residents prior to and during construction to minimize impacts. Please let our team know of areas of concern or typical routes or trails you use on your property so we can take those items into consideration during routing and construction.

Trees may interfere with transmission lines by posing a threat to the operational integrity of our system. For safety and reliability reasons, trees, tree limbs and all incompatible vegetation will be removed from the right-of-way area during construction.

Existing roads and field access will be used to the extent practical. Typically maintenance crews will travel the easement for line reviews. Temporary roads may be used for construction.