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Minnesota Power outlines 345 kV Maple River–Cuyuna transmission plan, cites routing and permitting timeline
Summary
Minnesota Power told Crow Wing County commissioners the Maple River–Cuyuna project is a roughly 160-mile, 345 kV overhead transmission line included in MISO tranche 2.1; the company plans a certificate-of-need filing by Feb. 7 and anticipates in-service around 2033 with extensive right-of-way and environmental work ahead.
Minnesota Power representatives presented the Maple River–Cuyuna transmission proposal to the Crow Wing County Board on Oct. 14, describing a regional reliability project and initial permitting timeline. Drew Janke, the utility’s environmental compliance specialist, said the project will be jointly owned by Minnesota Power with Otter Tail Power and Great River Energy and involve extensive routing and environmental review. “It is a new overhead transmission line, at 345 kilovolts, approximately a 160 miles,” Janke said.
Janke told commissioners the project was included as project number 20 in MISO’s December 2024 tranche 2.1 approvals and explained the team expects to file a certificate-of-need application by the Feb. 7 statutory deadline and a route-permit application later in 2026. He described typical construction features — double-circuit-capable structures, monopoles up to about 180 feet tall in some locations, and a standalone right-of-way of roughly 150 feet (about 120 feet where colocated with existing lines) — and listed required environmental, cultural and wetland surveys before field crews are deployed.
Commissioners pressed the presenters on cost, routing through lake areas and landowner outreach. Janke said MISO’s approval materials include estimated costs and that the project team will provide refined cost estimates with later filings; he also said the team will start land-rights outreach with agents as routing becomes more defined. The company anticipates construction work could begin in 2029 with the line entering service in 2033, subject to permitting and final routing decisions.
