Minnesota Power outlines 345 kV Maple River–Cuyuna transmission proposal, schedules public engagement and permitting

Drew Janke, an environmental compliance specialist with Minnesota Power, told the Clay County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 25 that the Maple River–Cuyuna (MRC) transmission project would be a new 345‑kilovolt single‑circuit overhead line on double‑circuit capable structures, about 160 miles long, designed to increase capacity and regional reliability.

“We’re building the project to enhance the reliability of the regional transmission system and to enable cost‑effective bulk power transfer,” Janke said, describing the line as bidirectional so energy can flow in either direction depending on demand. He said Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) approved the project in Tranche 2.1 in December 2024.

Janke outlined the permitting and public‑engagement schedule: two rounds of open houses already held, a third round planned for March or April, a certificate‑of‑need filing to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) expected in early February, and a route‑permit filing likely around August. He said Minnesota and North Dakota have comparable permitting processes and the project will also seek approvals from the North Dakota Public Service Commission for segments on that side of the border.

On design and right‑of‑way, Janke said standalone right‑of‑way for a new 345 kV line would be 150 feet; where the new line is colocated with an existing corridor the overlap may reduce to roughly 120 feet. He described the preferred steel monopole structure as roughly 120 to 180 feet tall depending on terrain, and said lattice towers would be used only where soil conditions require them. He added that all conductors would be hung at construction but initially operate as one circuit with a second circuit available to energize later.

Commissioners raised questions about public notification for residents inside the study buffer (Janke said the team uses a 1.5‑mile buffer from existing lines for outreach), about FAA height constraints near Morehead airport (Janke said the FAA’s restrictions will factor into routing and structure choices), and about when construction would occur; Janke said the company assumes construction would begin in 2029 with commercial service by 2033 if approvals proceed as planned.

Janke encouraged public participation, pointing listeners to the project website and an interactive web map where preliminary routes and study areas are posted. He said the project team will complete environmental, archaeological, wetland and biological surveys and begin discussions with landowners about right‑of‑way and right‑of‑entry agreements as the routing work advances.

The presentation did not include a formal action by the board; it was received for information and followed by commissioner questions and technical clarifications.