Project: CapX2020 Transmission Lines Project
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Decision on Certificate of Need for CAPX Transmission Projects |
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved, subject to certain conditions, the petition of the CAPX2020 coalition of utilities which sought a finding that the coalition’s proposed transmission projects are in the public interest. The decision covers the Minnesota portion of three 345,000 volt transmission projects: 1) from Brookings, South Dakota to the Twin Cities area; 2) from Fargo, North Dakota to Monticello, Minnesota; and 3) from the Twin Cities area to La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Commission attached conditions to the certificate of need order.
The petition for the certificate of need was filed by Great River Energy and Xcel Energy. Other members of the CAPX coalition include Central Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Minnesota Power, Missouri River Energy Services, Otter Tail Power Company, Rochester Public Utilities, Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, and Wisconsin Public Power.
The Commission’s decision as to the need for these projects comes at the culmination of an extensive review process, including development of a substantial record that began with the initial filing in August of 2007. Commission consideration of a specific route for each project will be dealt with in future separate route permit proceedings.
WHAT IS CAPX2020?
CapX2020 is an initiative by a group of Minnesota electric utilities that proposes to construct major electric transmission lines. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC, or Commission) must issue two types of approvals before the facilities can be constructed in Minnesota, a Certificate of Need and a Route Permits.
An Application for a Certificate of Need for several 345kV transmission lines was filed with the Commission on August 16, 2007. The Certificate of Need process can be reviewed here, Certificate of Need Process Description and Process Diagram. Maps of the proposed project can be reviewed at the Applicants' Website.
As permitted by Minnesota law, Certificate of Need applications can be filed separately from route applications. For the CapX2020 projects, the applicant utilities filed their ‘need’ application well in advance of filing route applications. Nothing in state law prohibits applicants from filing route applications before the PUC determines whether or not to grant a Certificate of Need. However, state law does prohibit final approval of routes before a Certificate of Need is approved. If the need is denied, any separate route proceedings underway will be terminated.
Applicant contact information and other utility-sponsored documents are available on the CapX2020 website.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?
The application, and other official documents provided to the PUC, can be viewed electronically on edockets by entering in the docket number. For the Certificate of need, enter Docket Number 06-1115 (Year: 06 Number: 1115) and then hitting enter. The Docket Number for the Brookings Route is 08-1474, and the St. Cloud to Monticello Route is 09-246. All documents are presented in most-recent-first order, and are opened by clicking in the left column on the ‘Document ID’ number. See below for important filing dates in the Certificate of Need docket: these dates can make finding pertinent documents on edockets easier. As the Commission's review process continues, all CapX2020 documents filed with the PUC and will be available on edockets (except trade secret information), including notice of comment periods and meetings.
Hardcopies of the Certificate of Need application and other key documents are available at several local libraries, see Libraries Where the Application May be Reviewed.
WHO DO I CALL IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
Questions regarding the Commission's procedures may be directed to: Bret Eknes at 651.201.2236.
Questions for the CapX2020 utilities should be directed to the contacts listed on their website: CapX2020.
Certificate of Need Process Steps and Key Dates
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| Applicants submit request for exemption from certain filing requirements | Completed: | 2/5/07 |
| Public comment period on applicants' request for exemption begins | Completed: | 3/19/07 |
| Commission meeting granting exemption request | Completed: | 6/4/07 |
| Application Filed | Completed: | 8/16/08 |
| Public comment period on application completeness begins 8/17/07 | Completed: | 9/24/07 |
| Commission meeting accepting application as substantially complete | Completed: | 11/21/07 |
| Environmental Report Prepared by the Dept. of Commerce | Completed: | 3/31/08 |
| Public comment on proposed projects and environmental report began | Began: | 5/22/08 |
| Testimony on related issues provided by expert witness | Completed: | 6/13/08 |
| Public Hearings held by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to receive public comment to answer questions | Completed: | 7/2/08 |
| Evidentiary hearings held to receive testimony from formal Parties and to conduct cross examinations of expert witnesses | Completed: | 9/18/08 |
| Legal arguments filed by Parties | Completed: | 1/23/09 |
| The ALJ provides Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Recommendations into the record for the Commissioner's Review | Completed: | 2/27/09 |
| Oral arguments and deliberation conducted before the Commission | Completed: | 4/15/09 - 4/16/09 |
| A written decision or order regarding the need for the project is issued by the Commission. | Completed: | 5/22/09 |