Brookings County-Hampton 345 kV project

	Project quick facts 345 kV line – about 240 miles Targeted in-service – 2013-2015 Minnesota route maps South Dakota route option map Final route map Fact sheet Communications and public outreach

The Brookings County-Hampton transmission line will improve reliability throughout southwest and west central Minnesota and the Twin Cities as well as enable access to new generation, including renewable energy resources in the area. The new line will be constructed from a new substation in Brookings County, South Dakota, to a new substation in Hampton, Minnesota.

The project was granted a Route Permit (docket 08-1474) from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MN PUC) on July 15, 2010 for approximately 175 miles of the 240-mile route, or the sections between the Brookings County, South Dakota substation and the new Cedar Mountain substation in Renville County and between the new Helena and Hampton substations. On February 3, 2011, the MN PUC approved the Minnesota River crossing at Belle Plaine. This approval finalized the last segment of the project route between the Cedar Mountain substation (Renville County) and the Helena substation (Scott County).

The segment between the Lyon County and Helena substations will be constructed as a double circuit transmission line. The other segments will be constructed with double circuit capable structures; only a single circuit will be energized after initial construction.

Single pole steel structures will be used to reduce land impacts. Structures are between 140 and 170 feet tall and will be between 800 and 1,000 feet apart. Typically, a 150-foot right-of-way will be required.

Minnesota permitting

The MN PUC must grant two approvals before construction – a Certificate of Need and a Route Permit. An environmental report was prepared by the Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security during the need process, and an Environmental Impact Statement was written during routing.

• Certificate of Need application – filed August 16, 2007; granted May 22, 2009
• Route Permit application– filed December 29, 2008
  • Judge’s recommendation – issued April 22, 2010
  • MN PUC approval – issued July 15, 2010
  • MN PUC written order – issued September 14, 2010
  • Judge’s recommendation – issued December 22, 2010 (amended order issued December 23, 2010)
  • MN PUC written order for remanded route segment – issued March 1, 2011
• EIS scoping decision – issued June 30, 2009
• Draft EIS – issued October 20, 2009
• Final EIS – issued January 26, 2010
• Route maps

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on April 4, 2013 re-affirmed the original alignment for an approximately two-mile segment of the Brookings County-Hampton project in eastern Scott County.

A map of the route in the area can be found here.

South Dakota permitting

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission must issue a Facility Permit before transmission line construction.

• Facility Permit application – filed November 22, 2010
  • SD PUC approval – granted June 14, 2011
• Route option map