Minnesota Power outlines route changes, timeline for Northland Reliability Project

Zach Okalski, a senior environmental compliance specialist with Minnesota Power, updated the Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners on the Northland Reliability Project, an 80-mile transmission line stretching from the Grand Rapids area to the Big Oak Substation near Becker.

Okalski said the project is a Midcontinent Independent System Operator–approved regional plan that will be a double-circuit 345 kV transmission line and that roughly 90% of the route will follow or parallel existing transmission corridors, reducing the need for new right-of-way. “We did increase the consolidation and the paralleling of existing lines from 85% to 90%, with the reduction of new right of way needed,” Okalski said.

The presentation described two new substations and a series compensation station in the Riverton area. Okalski said engineers are reconfiguring several existing local lines so the new line can occupy existing corridors rather than adding a third, wider corridor in many places. That consolidation includes stacking two smaller circuits on one set of structures so the Northland line can take the space of an existing circuit, a design change Okalski said reduces private land impacts. “We were able to utilize an existing right of way by consolidating two lines,” he said.

Why it matters: Minnesota Power and other utilities are building higher‑capacity transmission to move power from distant wind and solar generation as older, local coal‑fired plants are retired. Okalski and Mike Putney, a company real estate services representative, described the work as part of modernizing the grid to deliver power from farther‑away generators.

Key technical and schedule details in the update: - Route and permit: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the route on Feb. 20, 2025, with conditions including alignment adjustments to avoid residences and increased co-location of lines. - Local design changes: In the Crow Wing County area, the plan consolidates two existing lines (called the 92 and 11 lines in the presentation) on shared structures for multiple miles near Coal Lake Way, Riverton and Long Lake to reduce new private property crossings. - Structure height and FAA: Okalski said new structures will be taller—“just under 160, 100 and 40 to 180 feet”—and the company has been coordinating with the Federal Aviation Administration. - Permitting and surveys: Field surveys, cultural resources and wetland delineations will continue; Minnesota Power said it is working with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on crossing permits and will pursue road‑use and driveway agreements for construction access. - Real estate and easements: Putney said the company is obtaining rights of entry for surveys and will negotiate easement compensation, including timber value, with taxing authorities when the route crosses tax‑forfeit or public land. - Construction timing: Clearing and work on southern segments are expected to begin in late 2025 in Sherburne and Benton counties; exploratory borings and local work in Crow Wing County could begin in winter months, with larger construction in the 2026–2027 timeframe and an overall in‑service goal around 2030.

Putney told the board the company has generally received voluntary cooperation from landowners and that condemnation is an option only if negotiations fail. On compensation for county property, Putney said the county will be involved in setting the easement price and Minnesota Power offered a third‑party appraisal if needed.

Board members asked about visual impact, structure height, tax implications and the project’s purpose. Okalski and Putney said the line is intended to strengthen the regional grid so power from distant generation can reach load centers as local coal units retire. "As we move away from base load generation, we are having to rely more on far‑reaching generators of power," Putney said.

The presentation concluded with an invitation to landowners to use the project website and hotline for maps and questions; Minnesota Power officials offered to continue stakeholder meetings as the design and permitting work proceed.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation; it was provided for information and public record.