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Title: Site Permit for Large Wind Energy Conversion Systems (LWECS)
Alternate Title:
Description:

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC)


Subject: Energy
Utilities
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:17:16 PM
Modification Date: 2/4/2025 4:14:13 PM
Agency Name: Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Minnesota
Agency URL: https://mn.gov/puc/
Agency Description: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates three service industries in Minnesota, electricity, natural gas, and telephone. It is the commission's responsibility to ensure that vendors of these services provide safe, adequate, and reliable service at fair, reasonable rates.
Agency Phone: 651-296-0406
800-657-3782
Agency Fax: 651-297-7073
Agency URL: https://mn.gov/puc/
Agency Address:
121 7th Place East, Suite 350

St. Paul
MN 55101-2147

Unit Name: Email
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: Unit Fax: Contact person(s): publicadvisor.puc@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience: Hold Application URL:
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:

See Wind Energy Permitting

In Minnesota, the Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) oversees permits for wind energy projects that are 5 megawatts (MW) or larger. If someone wants to develop a wind project, they need to get a site permit from the Commission. 

For wind projects up to 25 MW, a county can issue the permit if it tells the Commission it wants to take on this role. A county can also set stricter rules for wind projects. The Commission will follow these county rules for projects in that county, unless there’s a good cause not to. 

There are three permitting types of wind project approvals. 

Permitting timeline: Within 180 days after acceptance of a complete application. The commission may extend this deadline for cause. 

 There are three processes that may impact a LWECS project: site permit, permit amendment process, and the permit transfer process. 

The PUC Role: The Commission reviews and helps build the record, and the Commissioners will make the final decision about what appropriate action to take. 


Rules: 7854

Statutes: 216F

Forms:

No specific form. Contact the MN Department of Commerce for information regarding what is to be required to be included in the application. Application requirements are described in Minn. Rules 7854


Fees:

The reasonable costs of processing the permit application. 25% of the estimated costs are due before the application will be processed.


Period of Issuance:

30 years, with the possibility of renewal.


Length of Determination:
Permitting timeline: Within 180 days after acceptance of a complete application. The commission may extend this deadline for cause. 

Other Info:
Activity: Energy Facilities
Large Wind Energy Conversion Systems
License Detail URL:

Wind Energy

Energy Facilities Permitting

Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Minnesota

eDockets

MN Public Utilities Commission (PUC)

 


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