(St. Paul, MN)--Public hearings have been scheduled for a major new electric transmission project that would cross southern Minnesota.
Three public utilities, Great River Energy, Xcel Energy and ITC Midwest, have filed an application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for the PowerOn Midwest project. It includes a 765-kilovolt transmission line connecting substations in Jackson, Mower and Olmsted counties.
Five public hearings are scheduled for November 9th-16th.. Public hearings in this area will be held on Tuesday, November 10th from 5 to 8 pm at the Windom Community Center and on Thursday, November 12th from 10 am to 1 pm at the Fox Lake Event Center in Sherburn.
The utility companies say the project would improve electric reliability and connect new energy sources to the regional grid. Opponents argue there are way too many unknowns to move forward with the project.
If this project is approved, construction could begin by 2030, with the line expected to be operational in 2034.
