Houston County adopts resolution opposing proposed Gopher–BadgerLink transmission project

The Houston County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 26-08 opposing the proposed Grover/Gopher-to-BadgerLink 765 kV transmission project within the county.

The resolution, presented by Brent Parker, grew out of public feedback and requests from residents and landowners. During discussion Commissioner Cindy proposed a series of edits that the board incorporated before voting: a requirement that the project be shown to provide explicit, direct benefits to Houston County residents, that an environmental impact statement (EIS) include a mitigation plan, full disclosure of anticipated right-of-way acquisitions in the county, documentation of Minnesota residential rate impacts resulting from the project projected over one, 10 and 20 years, and a deadline for applicants to provide written or in-person information to the county (April 30, 2026). Allison read the agreed changes aloud before the motion to adopt.

A public commenter who identified herself as an illustrator from Wilmington Township urged the board to approve the resolution. "I would highly encourage you to vote for that resolution," the commenter said.

After the vote, Steve Porter, director of system planning and operations for Derryllon Power Cooperative — an applicant in the state permitting process with Xcel Energy — addressed the board. Porter said Derryllon had filed a certificate-of-need application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and emphasized that the PUC permitting process and upcoming open houses are the venues where many of the county's questions will be addressed. "Opportunities for public dialogue have started with open houses in January, and there will be additional open houses in April," he said, and encouraged residents to submit comments to the PUC docket.

The board conducted a roll-call vote on the resolution and registered affirmative votes from each district, after which the chair moved on to the next agenda item. The resolution takes effect under the county's stated process (activated 10 days after adoption) and directs staff to pursue the requests enumerated in the adopted language, including the April 30, 2026 informational deadline for applicants.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold the formal permitting and comment process for the project; members of the public may submit comments through that docket and attend the applicant-hosted open houses the applicant announced.