Routing
Routing a transmission line is no small task. The state of Minnesota has statutes 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 own expertise is critical as we develop and finalize a route.
Routing process
Routing criteria
Throughout the route development process, we consider various opportunities and constraints such as those listed here.
Opportunities
- Existing transmission line and utility corridors
- Highways and roads
- Property lines
- Field lines
Constraints
- Agricultural considerations
- Airports/air navigation facilities
- Cemeteries
- Communication towers*
- Conservation areas/nature preserves
- Cultural/archaeological and historic resources
- Floodplains
- Lakes/ponds
- State/regional/local parks and trails
- Levees/dams
- Mines/quarries
- Pipelines*
- Potentially contaminated sites
- Railroads*
- Religious facilities
- Residences (especially large clusters of homes)
- Rivers/streams/wetlands
- Scenic highways
- Schools
- Sensitive crops
- Sensitive plant/animal species
- Wells
Five-step routing process
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Define study area
Public engagement runs until proposed route is identified -
Define route corridor
We are here -
Define route alternatives
-
Identify proposed route
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Submit Certificate of Need and Route Permit to Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
Engagement opportunities during PUC process
We’re currently on step two: define route corridor, a narrowed geographic area within the study area that encompasses the endpoints of the project. We’ll be relying on feedback from you, local leaders, agencies and our own expertise to develop alternatives within the route corridor.