Energy Facilities

Project docket

The Commission has issued  a Certificate of Need and a Route Permit for the Big Stone Transmission Lines Project.

The Project consists of  two separate high voltage transmission lines. One line would run north and east from the Big Stone Plant in Big Stone City, South Dakota, to Morris, Minnesota, and a second line would run south from the Big Stone Plant within South Dakota, then east to Canby, Minnesota, and on to Granite Falls, Minnesota. The lines are more specifically described below:

Line One (the “Morris” line) – Big Stone to Morris, Minnesota:

• a new 230 kV transmission line from the Big Stone Plant to Ortonville, Minnesota (approximately seven miles long, two miles of which are located in Minnesota);

• the rebuild of an existing 115 kV transmission line to 230 kV from Ortonville, Minnesota, to the Johnson Junction switching station located in Johnson, Minnesota (approximately 25 miles), and then from the Johnson Junction switching station to the Morris substation near Morris, Minnesota (approximately 16 miles).

Line Two (the “Granite Falls” line) – Big Stone to Granite Falls, Minnesota:

• a new line capable of operating at 345 kV from the Big Stone Power Plant to Canby, Minnesota, traveling due south in South Dakota, and most likely crossing the Minnesota-South Dakota border due west of Canby (approximately 54 miles, approximately 14 miles of which are in Minnesota);

• the rebuild of an existing 115 kV transmission line from Canby, Minnesota, to Granite Falls, Minnesota (approximately 39 miles), to a line which is also designed and capable of operating at 345 kV, but which would likely operate at 230 kV initially. The line would terminate at either the Minnesota Valley substation or the Granite Falls substation.

Primary documents
Date	Project name	Description
January 07, 2009	EFP Comments and Recommendations re the Route Permit for the Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	OES EFP Comments on the Record in the Routing Docket of the Big Stone Transmission Project and a Recommendation for a Route Permit along the Applicants' Proposed Route
March 17, 2009	Final Order and Permit for a Route | document details	The Commission has issued this Order and Permit allowing Ottertail Power Company and Partners to construct the Big Stone Transmission Lines Project

File register
Date	Project name	Description
March 17, 2009	Final Order and Permit for a Route | document details	The Commission has issued this Order and Permit allowing Ottertail Power Company and Partners to construct the Big Stone Transmission Lines Project
January 07, 2009	EFP Comments and Recommendations re the Route Permit for the Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	OES EFP Comments on the Record in the Routing Docket of the Big Stone Transmission Project and a Recommendation for a Route Permit along the Applicants' Proposed Route
May 29, 2008	EFP Comments and Recommendations re the Route Permit for the Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	OES EFP Comments on the Record in the Routing Docket of the Big Stone Transmission Project and a Recommendation to Grant a Route Permit along the Applicants' Proposed Route
May 29, 2008	Proposed Route Permit | document details	OES EFP Proposal to the PUC for a Route Permit in the Big Stone Transmission Project
May 29, 2008	Route Permit - Maps | document details	OES EFP Proposed Route Permit Maps for the Big Stone Transmission Project
December 01, 2006	Final Environmental Impact Statement for Big Stone Transmission Project Route and Certificate of Need Applications | document details	Final EIS - Click on
September 07, 2006	Notice of Public Information Meetings and Public Hearings for the Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	Public Information Meetings on the DEIS and Public Hearings on the CN and Route Applications will be held in Western Minnesota October 9-13 and in St. Paul October 16th. An Evidentiary Hearing will be held in St. Paul December 5-15
August 01, 2006	Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	The DEIS is now available for public review and comment. The review period extends until October 31, 2006
July 31, 2006	Draft Environmental Impact Statement | document details	DEIS for Big Stone Transmission Project Route and Certificate of Need Applications--Click on DETAILS link at left to access DEIS Appendices
February 28, 2006	Big Stone Environmental Impact Statement Scoping Decision | document details	Order of the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce establishing and outlining EIS scope
February 13, 2006	Public Comment on the Scope of the EIS for Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	Public Comments on the BS HVTL Project, including impacts on routes and other comments provided toward defining the scope of the EIS
December 27, 2005	Notice of Public Meetings for Big Stone Transmission Project in Western Minnesota | document details	Public Meetings to be help on January 24 in Benson, January 25 in Morris and Ortonville and January 26 in Canby and Granite Falls -- Public Comments due by February 13
December 21, 2005	Public Utilities Commission Order accepting permit application and initiating procedures | document details	Public Utilities Commission Order accepting permit application and initiating procedures
December 13, 2005	Briefing Paper re Route Permit Application for the Big Stone Transmission Project | document details	Staff Briefing Paper for the PUC re Accepting Route Permit for the Big Stone Transmission Project as Complete
December 09, 2005	Route Permit Application for the Big Stone Transmission Project in Western Minnesota | document details	Application to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for Route Permits for the Big Stone Transmission Project
December 09, 2005	Route Permit Application for the Big Stone Transmission Project - Overview Map | document details	Route Permit Application for the Big Stone Transmission Project - Appendix B.2 Project Overview Map
December 09, 2005	Route Permit Application and Appendices for the Big Stone Transmission Project in Western Minnesota-OTP Site | document details	Application and full set of Appendices for Route Permits for the Big Stone Transmission Project - Available on the Otter Tail Power site