Energy Facilities Permitting
The Commission has the authority to grant Certificates of Need and Site or Route Permits for large electric generating facilities, transmission lines, and some pipelines. Applications for projects subject to the Commission’s authority are filed with the Commission in compliance with state statutes and administrative rules. Joint processing of applications for a Certificate of Need and a Site or Route Permit is allowed.
Certificate of Need
A certificate of need (CN) is a document issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission that shows there is a need for the power produced.
Energy Storage
To build an energy storage system with a nameplate capacity of 10MW or more in Minnesota, a site permit issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is required. A certificate of need is not required for stand-alone energy storage systems.
Pipelines
A pipeline routing permit issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is required for the routing and construction of certain pipelines designed to transport hazardous liquids.
Power Plants
A site permit issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is required to build a power plants capable of generating 50 megawatts of electricity or more in Minnesota.
Solar Power
A site permit issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is required for the siting and construction of solar energy generating systems capable of generating 50 megawatts or more.
Transmission Lines
A route permit issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is required to build certain high-voltage transmission lines.
Wind Energy
A site permit issued by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is required for the siting and construction of a large wind energy conversion system that is five megawatts or greater.
Energy Infrastructure Permitting
The Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act is a new legislative framework passed in 2024 designed to streamline and enhance the permitting process for energy infrastructure projects in Minnesota.
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