Developer briefs Stevens County on Big Stone South–Alexandria transmission project schedule and local route options

Joshua Humberger, project manager for the Big Stone South–Alexandria portion of a multi‑segment transmission project, briefed the Stevens County Board on the regulatory schedule, route options and the environmental review process for the line.

Humberger told the board the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved combined certificates of need for the larger project and the route permit portion for the Alexandria to Big Oaks section in October 2024; the BSS‑to‑Alexandria segment under discussion is largely “greenfield.” The applicant submitted a route permit application in October of the prior year and the PUC issued a scope for the environmental impact statement (EIS) on May 6 (as noted in the presentation). The PUC will issue a draft EIS and hold in‑person and remote public hearings on the draft EIS and application from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, 2025; the public comment period will stay open through Oct. 20, 2025.

Humberger described that the project will use double‑circuit capable metal pole structures averaging about 150 feet in height and typically four to six structures per mile; at present only one circuit will be strung. He said route alternatives exist within Stevens County—most changes were in neighboring Big Stone and Swift counties, but a notable route addition at the north end of Artichoke Lake would swing into Stevens County before rejoining a county road. The presentation showed two primary applicant routes and additional segments added during scoping; Humberger said the PUC could establish a route corridor up to about 1.25 miles wide in limited areas to preserve routing flexibility when environmental constraints or landowner concerns require it.

Humberger outlined the regulatory calendar: the administrative law judge is expected to issue a report on the EIS in late February 2026, and the PUC would decide on route permits in April 2026; final engineering was expected in 2027 with construction beginning in early 2028 and completion by late 2030, subject to permitting and easement acquisition.

Why it matters: the project crosses multiple counties and landowners in the region; route selection in Stevens County could affect land use and require future right‑of‑way and easement negotiations for impacted parcels.

What’s next: the applicant encouraged landowners to review the public docket and attend the EIS hearings in the fall and noted additional agency consultation will continue with DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and other resource agencies as part of the EIS process.