Meeting Southern
Minnesota's Energy Demand
The Mankato-Mississippi River Transmission Project will increase reliability, resiliency during extreme weather and access to more low-cost renewable energy for customers.
New Alternatives to be Studied
On October 3, 2024 the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). As part of the scoping decision, new transmission line routes and system alternatives will be studied, along with the routes originally proposed in the Route Permit application filed in early 2024. Public hearings for the draft EIS are expected in May 2025.
Read the Scoping Documents
Infrastructure for Southern Minnesota and the Midwest
The Mankato-Mississippi River Transmission Project will improve reliability, deliver low-cost renewable energy and provide other regional benefits by building new and more resilient 'backbone' electric transmission infrastructure to serve customers.
The Mankato-Mississippi River Transmission Project includes about 120 miles of new and upgraded 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines between the existing Wilmarth Substation near Mankato and a connection point at the Mississippi River near Kellogg. It also includes building about 20 miles of new 161 kV transmission lines between the existing North Rochester Substation near Pine Island and an existing transmission line northeast of Rochester, which is being relocated from its existing alignment to install the new 345 kV infrastructure. The project includes segments that include either new or upgraded infrastructure.
Need for New Infrastructure
This project is part of a portfolio of long-range electric transmission projects identified by the regional grid operator, MISO, to improve reliability and make the grid more resilient during extreme weather, and ensure customers receive the electricity they need as aging generation plants are retired and new wind and solar energy developments are built.
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Increased Reliability
Creating new network connections across the grid means a more reliable energy system. -
Reduced Congestion
Just like a highway, the electric grid gets congested too. New transmission means increased capacity to deliver more energy and reduce costs for customers. -
Increased Resiliency
Providing access and connections to more renewable energy sources means less carbon. -
Low-Cost Energy
New transmission lines means access to more low-cost renewable energy.
How Transmission Works
Watch this short video to learn how transmission infrastructure supports our electric grid.
Schedule
We're working in your communities to share information, collect your input and if approved, build this project. We anticipate this project being in service in 2028.
2022
- Project identified by MISO
2023
- Planning
- Route development process begins
- Public and stakeholder engagement
- Preliminary engineering
2024-2026
- Minnesota permitting review (including public engagement)
- Submit Certificate of Need and Route Permit Application
- Negotiate with landowners to purchase easements
- Obtain other required permits
- Continued public and stakeholder engagement
2026-2028
- Detailed design and engineering
- Construction
2028
- In-service and restoration
*Schedules are subject to change.
Project Routes
Learn more about the project segments, explore the interactive map and drop a pin to leave a comment.
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