Skip to content

This webpage contains information and documents related to the permitting of this project by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Every project before the Commission has an electronic docket - an eDocket, a file folder for all of the project.s documents.

Documents for this project are listed below in the File Register, most recent documents first. To view the eDockets record for this project, click on the eDockets link below, or click on the eDockets tab in the File Register. A subset of the record, including key documents with descriptions, is available by clicking on the Energy Facilities tab in the File Register.

For more information about participating in the permitting of this project, click on the How to Participate tab, or contact the state permit manager or public advisor listed below.

Project Docket

Docket No E002/GS-11-307
Project name Black Dog Repowering Project
Applicant Xcel Energy
Description Xcel Energy's proposed Black Dog Repowering Project to install natural gas-fired combined cycle electric generating technology to replace two existing units currently fueled by low-sulfur western coal
Subjects Environmental policy; Power plants
Location Dakota County
Docket created: May 19, 2011
Status:
 
06-24-2011
Application accepted
 
08-23-2011
Public meeting
 
12-10-2012
Docket closed
 
Scoping decision
 
Environmental document available
 
Public hearing
 
Permit issued
 
Project built
 
Docket closed
eDockets 11-307
Mailing list • Register (if you have never established an account) Or
• Sign on (if you already have established an account for other mailing lists)
 
Project Summary

Xcel Energy filed a site and route permit application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) on May 19, 2011, for the Black Dog Repowering Project.

The proposed project will be located at the existing Black Dog Plant Site in Burnsville, Minnesota. The project will consist of installing natural gas-fired combined cycle electric generating technology to replace the existing Units 3 and 4 that are currently fueled by low-sulfur western coal. This will result in more than 450 MW of additional generating capacity at the plant.  

The project is comprised of the following: two natural gas combustion turbine-generator sets; two Heat Recovery Steam Generators; two exhaust stacks; steam turbine generator, condenser and cooling tower; natural gas interconnection; 345 kV Substation; 1,000 to 1,500 feet of rebuilt 115 kV transmission lines; and, two sections of 4,000 feet 345 kV transmission lines that will interconnect the new substation to the existing Blue Lake to Prairie Island 345 kV transmission line and the existing Blue Lake to Inver Hills 345 kV line.  Xcel Energy states that the project is needed to meet future load growth and changes in environmental regulations.

  • The site permit and route permit application was accepted as complete by the Commission on June 24, 2011.
  • A public information and environmental assessment scoping meeting was conducted by the Department of Commerce on August 23, 2011, at the Burnsville City Hall Council Chambers in Burnsville Minnesota.
  • A public information and scoping meeting was conducted by the Department of Commerce on October 5, 2011, at the Intergovernmental Center in Mankato, Minnesota.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED DOCKET (E002/CN-11-307)

A separate but related docket has been opened for the review of the project certificate of need application under Docket No. E002/CN-11-184.  Environmental review files related to that proceeding are available on the Energy Facility Permitting website at:  Black Dog Certificate of Need

A more comprehensive list of documents pertaining to certificate of need docket can be viewed on the Commission�s eDockets electronic filing site at: Black Dog eDocket Page

File Register
DateDocumentDescription
09/21/11 Notice of Public Information and Scoping Meeting for the Black Dog Repowering Project (629 KB) | document details
The Department of Commerce will conduct a public information and environmental report scoping meeting on October 5, 2011, at the Intergovernmental Center, Minnesota River Room in Mankato, Minnesota. Comments are accepted until October 25, 2011
08/04/11 Notice of Public Information and Environmental Assessment Scoping Meeting for the Black Dog Repowering Project (4.5 MB) | document details
The Department of Commerce will conduct a public information and environmental assessment scoping meeting on August 23, 2011, at the Burnsville City Hall Council Chambers in Burnsville Minnesota. Comments are accepted until September 6, 2011
06/24/11 Commission Order – Application Acceptance (488 KB) | document details
Commission Order accepting the Xcel Energy site and route permit application for the Black Dog Repowering Project as complete under the alternative permitting process
06/15/11 EFP Comments and Recommendations on the Black Dog Repowering Project Site and Route Permit Application (480 KB) | document details
Staff recommendations that the Commission accept the site and route permit application as complete under the Alternative Review Process of the Power Plant Siting Act
05/19/11 Application for a Generating Plant Site Permit and a Transmission Line Route Permit Black Dog Repowering Project
Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for Xcel Energy’s Black Dog Repowering Project. The project will consist of installing natural gas-fired combined cycle electric generating technology to replace the existing Units 3 and 4 that are currently fueled by low-sulfur western coal. The proposed project will be located at the existing Black Dog Plant Site in Burnsville, Minnesota
03/15/11 CERTIFICATE OF NEED
Environmental review files related to the certificate of need proceeding
Date Document On Behalf Of Description
02/26/13 20132-84163-07 PUC MINUTES--NOVEMBER 1, 2012 AGENDA AMEETING
12/04/12 201212-81357-43 PUC NOTICE--CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND SERVICE LIST
12/04/12 201212-81357-15 PUC NOTICE--POWER PLANT SITING AND TRANSMISSION LINE ROUTING PROGRAM ANNUAL HEARING
11/21/12 201211-80953-02 PUC ORDER--CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND SERVICE LIST
11/21/12 201211-80953-01 PUC ORDER--APPROVING REQUEST TO WITHDRAW APPLICATION
11/19/12 201211-80824-03 PUC MINUTES--OCTOBER 25, 2012 AGENDA MEETING
10/19/12 201210-79729-01 PUC NOTICE OF COMMISSION MEETING--NOVEMBER 1, 2012
10/18/12 201210-79694-01 PUC BRIEFING PAPERS--DUPLICATE-OCTOBER 25, 2012 AGENDA MEETING
10/18/12 201210-79691-01 PUC BRIEFING PAPERS--OCTOBER 25, 2012 AGENDA MEETING
10/12/12 201210-79490-01 PUC NOTICE OF COMMISSION MEETING--OCTOBER 25, 2012
09/06/12 20129-78435-02 XCEL ENERGY REPLY COMMENTS
08/21/12 20128-78021-01 XCEL ENERGY REQUEST TO UPDATE SERVICE LIST--REMOVE-SARA CARDWELL
08/20/12 20128-77990-02 XCEL ENERGY COMMENTS
02/08/12 20122-71375-01 XCEL RES PLAN UPDATE CORRECTIONS OTHER--XCEL RES PLAN UPDATE CORRECTIONS
12/07/11 201112-69055-01 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--REQUEST FOR WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION
12/05/11 201112-68918-01 DOC EFP COMMENTS--PUBLIC MEETING NOTES-BURNSVILLS, MN
10/24/11 201110-67606-01 PUC PUBLIC COMMENT
10/12/11 201110-67241-01 XCEL ENERGY LETTER--REQUEST TO DELAY BLACK DOG APPLICATION
10/10/11 201110-67203-01 NORTHERN STATES POWER COMPANY, A MINNESOTA CORPORATION LETTER--LETTER TO ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE RICHARD C. LUIS
10/10/11 201110-67204-01 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--LETTER FALL UPDATE
09/30/11 20119-66778-01 DOC EFP NOTICE--NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING - NEWSPAPER
09/22/11 20119-66557-02 DOC NOTICE--OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SCOPING MEETING
09/20/11 20119-66509-01 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--NOTICE OF HARD COPY OF APP SENT TO GOV EMPL
09/19/11 20119-66466-01 PUC PUBLIC COMMENT
09/06/11 20119-66012-01 CALPINE CORPORATION COMMENTS
08/10/11 20118-65204-06 PUC MINUTES--JUNE 23, 2011 AGENDA MEETING
08/04/11 20118-65019-02 DOC NOTICE--REVISED - INCLUDES AFFIDAVIT AND MAILING LABELS MISSING FROM SUBMISSION 20118-65017
08/04/11 20118-65017-02 DOC NOTICE--OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND SCOPING MEETING
08/04/11 20118-64997-01 XCEL ENERGY REQUEST TO UPDATE SERVICE LIST
07/21/11 20117-64395-01 XCEL ENERGY COMPLIANCE FILING--BLACK DOG
06/24/11 20116-64026-01 PUC ORDER
06/24/11 20116-64026-02 PUC ORDER--CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AND SERVICE LIST
06/15/11 20116-63613-01 DOC EFP BRIEFING PAPERS--EFP COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON APPLICATION ACCEPTANCE
06/10/11 20116-63405-03 PUC NOTICE OF COMMISSION MEETING--JUNE 23, 2011
05/23/11 20115-62800-01 XCEL ENERGY NOTICE--BLACK DOG SITE AND ROUTE NOTICE LETTER
05/20/11 20115-62771-01 BRIGGS AND MORGAN, P.A. REQUEST TO UPDATE SERVICE LIST--ADD KRIKAVA AND CHURCH
05/19/11 20115-62727-02 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--AMENDED BLACK DOG SITE PERMIT PART 2 OF 2
05/19/11 20115-62727-01 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--AMENDED BLACK DOG SITE PERMIT PART 1 OF 2
05/13/11 20115-62550-01 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--BLACK DOG SITE PERMIT PART 1
05/13/11 20115-62550-04 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--BLACK DOG SITE PERMIT PART 2
05/13/11 20115-62550-03 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--BLACK DOG SITE PERMIT PART 2
05/13/11 20115-62550-02 XCEL ENERGY OTHER--BLACK DOG SITE PERMIT PART 1
05/10/11 20115-62408-01 PUC PUBLIC COMMENT
04/05/11 20114-61029-01 XCEL ENERGY INITIAL FILING--INTENT TO FILE SITE AND ROUTE APPLICATION