New $900 M power line planned
Minnesota utilities propose $900 M Maple River-Cuyuna line to boost regional grid reliability and meet growing electricity demand.
Image for illustrative purposes / Image credit: Bruce VanLoon, Shutterstock.com
USA, Minnesota, Fargo: Three Minnesota power companies plan to construct a 260-km (160-mi), two-way 345-kV transmission line from near Fargo to central Minnesota. The Maple River-Cuyuna line aims to improve electric grid reliability, especially during extreme weather events.
Craig Steingaard, a transmission project developer with Otter Tail Power Co., said construction is expected to start in 2029, with the line potentially becoming operational by 2033. The project still requires approvals from the North Dakota Public Service Commission and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Depending on the final route, local road use or access permits may also be needed.
Preliminary estimates place the project cost at $900 M. Construction could generate around 200 jobs, according to Otter Tail spokeswoman Stephanie Hoff.
Otter Tail has partnered with Great River Energy of Maple Grove and Minnesota Power in Duluth to connect the existing Maple River substation, southwest of Reile’s Acres near Fargo, to the new Cuyuna substation near Riverton, Minnesota. Engineers are finalising the route, which will cross the Red River north of Fargo, with about 95 % of the line in Minnesota.
Steingaard noted that electricity could flow either into Minnesota or back into North Dakota, depending on demand. The line will support cost-effective regional energy transfers and strengthen grid operations within the Midcontinent Independent System Operator region, covering 15 states and Manitoba.
The companies have held several open houses in Harwood, N.D., and Dilworth, Minn., to inform residents and collect feedback. Planning began prior to the announcement of a 280-MW AI data centre near Fargo, which is set to open in 2027, six years before the transmission line is expected to be active.
Source: Inforum
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