ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Commerce has issued the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project, a high-voltage transmission line. The EIS describes the potential human and environmental impacts of the proposed project and strategies to mitigate these impacts. 

About the Minnesota Energy Connection Project 

Xcel Energy is seeking a certificate of need and a route permit to construct an approximately 180-mile double-circuit 345 kilovolt transmission line and associated facilities. The line would connect the Sherburne County Generation Station Substation (Sherco Substation) in Becker, Minnesota to a new substation in Lyon County, Minnesota. The project will span across Sherburne, Stearns, Kandiyohi, Wright, Meeker, Chippewa, Yellow Medicine, Renville, Redwood, and Lyon counties.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will use the EIS, along with other public comments and documents, to decide whether to grant a certificate of need and route permit for the project. 

Accessing the Final Environmental Impact Statement 

The EIS and other relevant documents, including the route permit application, can be found online: 

• eDockets: Enter “22” for year, “131” or “132” for docket number, then select Search.
• Commerce’s Energy Environmental Review and Analysis: Webpage for this project

Print copies of the EIS will be available at the following libraries:

• Great River Regional Library, 13020 Orono Parkway, Elk River, MN
• Great River Regional Library, 1300 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN
• Great River Regional Library, 51 Spruce Street West, Kimball, MN
• Willmar Public Library, 410 Fifth Street Southwest, Willmar, MN
• Great River Regional Library, 18 Lake Boulevard Northwest, Buffalo, MN
• Litchfield Public Library, 216 North Marshall Avenue, Litchfield, MN
• Montevideo Public Library, 224 South First Street, Montevideo, MN
• Canby Public Library, 110 Oscar Avenue North, Canby, MN
• Olivia Public Library, 405 South Tenth Street, Olivia, MN
• Redwood Falls Public Library, 509 South Lincoln Street, Redwood Falls, MN
• Marshall-Lyon County Library, 201 C Street, Marshall, MN

The EIS is available in alternative formats, such as large print or audio. To request a copy, please call (651) 539-1530. 

Contacts

For questions about the EIS or more information, contact Commerce Energy Environmental Review and Analysis staff: 

Andrew Levi
andrew.levi@state.mn.us
651-539-0109

Ray Kirsch
raymond.kirsch@state.mn.us
651-539-1841