Great River Energy updates Benton County on Northland Reliability transmission route, substation work and timing

Good River Energy gave Benton County commissioners a detailed update on the Northland Reliability Project, a high-voltage overhead transmission line that will run from the Iron Range substation toward the Sherco and Big Oaks substations and include a substation expansion in Benton County.

The company said the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a route in February that shifts parts of the line near Riverton and South Long Lake to maximize colocation with existing transmission rights-of-way. The company presented a draft layout for a Cherry Park substation adjacent to the existing Benton County substation and said it will slightly expand the Benton County substation on the south end.

Brian Hunker, with Great River Energy, said the project will collocate the new Northland Reliability Project line with two existing 230 kV lines in parts of Benton County. “So instead of having three transmission lines across, there will now be essentially two of them that will be double circuited. So that helps to save the amount of new right of way within those areas,” Hunker said. He described plans to place two circuits into separate bays at the expanded substation and to use existing rights-of-way for lines exiting the south end of the substation.

Why it matters: the changes shorten the amount of new right-of-way required in Benton County and concentrate construction activity near the county substation and a nearby former gravel pit being developed as the Cherry Park substation site. Hunker said clearing of trees on the southern half of the Benton County property was completed in early April and that grading of the substation parcel — including the laydown yard — is planned for late July or early August.

Project scope and timing: Hunker said the laydown yard is roughly 10 acres and the substation footprint about 15 acres. The project will include permanent stormwater ponds and a small electric equipment building about 20 by 20 feet; Hunker said the building “is all just electrical equipment” and not an office. Construction will proceed in three phases: Sherco to Benton (2025–26), Benton North to Kyuna (2025–27), and Kyuna to Iron Range (later years). Above-ground work at the Benton substation is expected to start in spring 2026 after subgrade settlement and soil amendments.

Community impacts and outreach: Hunker warned residents to expect construction traffic, occasional lane or short-duration road closures for stringing, tree clearing, dust, lighting at the laydown yard and work hours tentatively set at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. He urged landowners to contact the project hotline and the interactive project website, which will show map layers for tree clearing, foundations and structures as construction progresses.

County coordination on roads and rights-of-way: Commissioners asked about road permits and road-use agreements. Hunker said road right-of-way permits would be required for work actually in county road rights-of-way and that the company plans to negotiate road-use agreements to address temporary access points, staging and driveway or turn-radius approaches that may need culverts and timber matting. He said the company expects to coordinate with county highway departments, townships and landowners on staging, traffic control and road condition resolution.

Contractors and surveys: Hunker named Michaels as prime contractor, Braun Intertech for soil borings, HDR/Emergent/MNR for cultural and biological surveys, Westwood as the civil surveyor and Land Service Company as the right-of-way consultant. He said helicopter stringing will be used initially and ground equipment thereafter; foundations will use augered holes with concrete and anchor-bolt cages.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the presenter and said they would circulate the project contact information to residents with questions. Hunker said the real estate team will continue working with landowners on easements and expects higher call volumes as staking and soil borings increase in the field.