Grid North Partners support approval of historic portfolio of critical transmission lines

Upper Midwest electric providers poised to develop projects to ensure continued reliability

Grid North Partners, a group of ten electric providers in the Upper Midwest, commend the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) approval of a new set of high-voltage transmission projects to help ensure reliable service, deliver more renewable energy, and support the region’s growing economy. Several of the participating companies now plan to begin development of the projects, which will serve customers throughout the Midwest with reliable electricity in a changing energy environment.

The newly approved second set of projects in MISO’s Long Range Transmission Plan, known as Tranche 2.1, will deliver energy resources to customers where and when they need it. They include several projects in the Grid North Partners’ footprint that will provide significant benefits, including reliable electricity in the face of a changing energy system and increased access to new generation. The projects will also help meet long-term electric growth expected throughout the Midwest in the coming decades and the expected retirement of older power plants as the region transitions to more renewable resources, such as wind and solar.  

“These new transmission lines will help keep electric service reliable and affordable for homes, farms, and businesses every hour, every day,” Grid North Partners said in a joint statement. “Being able to deliver bulk electricity across multiple states will help us ensure reliability for customers even when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.” 

Energy companies throughout the region have been working closely with MISO, which manages the region’s electric grid, over many years to develop these transmission solutions as the region’s grid continues to evolve.

The $21.8 billion portfolio includes 24 projects throughout the Midwest with several 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines and a 765-kV transmission backbone in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. While 765-kV transmission has been used in other parts of the United States for decades, these projects will be a first for the Upper Midwest. This larger transmission line can carry the same amount of electricity as six 345-kV transmission lines, maximizing the efficient use of land and reducing the overall impact on landowners.

As the region’s electric system continues to transition from fossil fuels to renewable resources, such as wind and solar, more bulk power lines are needed across the region to ensure continued reliability.

“To support the Upper Midwest’s energy and economic future, electric providers are using innovative approaches to maintain the reliability of the grid in a way that is most affordable and least impactful from a land-use perspective,” Grid North Partners said. “These projects and the addition of the 765-kV transmission backbone are a big step for the region and position the system for the future.”

Projects in the Grid North Partners' footprint include:

• Fargo-Alexandria Second Circuit (345-kV)
• Pleasant Valley-North Rochester Second Circuit (345-kV)
• Maple River-Cuyuna (345-kV)
• Hampton-North Rochester Second Circuit (345-kV)
• Iron Range-Arrowhead (345-kV)
• New 765-kV backbone transmission connecting the following substations:
  • Big Stone South (Northeast South Dakota)
  • Brookings (Eastern South Dakota)
  • Lakefield Junction (Southwest Minnesota)
  • Pleasant Valley (Southeast Minnesota)
  • North Rochester (Southeast Minnesota)
  • Columbia (near Madison, Wisconsin)

 
Map above doesn't represent final project routes.

Joint Targeted Interconnection Queue (JTIQ) projects connect regions, including southwest Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota
MISO also approved several projects that will greatly improve the ability to develop new renewable energy in southwest Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Great Plains by providing strong transmission connections and reducing congestion along the boundaries between the MISO and Southwest Power Pool grids. These projects will allow renewable energy developers and energy providers to tap into the region’s rich wind resources. The projects are partially funded by U.S. Department of Energy grants, lowering long-term costs for customers. 

Projects approved as part of the JTIQ portfolio include:

• Bison-Hankinson-Big Stone South (Eastern North Dakota and Northeast South Dakota
• Lyon-Lakefield Junction (Southwest Minnesota)
• Raun-S3452 (Nebraska)
• Auburn-Hoyt (Kansas)
• Sibley substation reconfiguration (Missouri)

Altogether, the JTIQ projects will enable up to 35,000 megawatts of new low-cost renewable energy, enough to power more than 18 million homes. 

All MISO-approved projects will require approval from state regulatory agencies. Project partners will engage landowners, local governments, and other stakeholders as part of the project development process.