Why Minnesota
Need for more transmission
In 2023, Minnesota enacted a law committing to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. One of the keys to achieving this goal lies in developing the needed electric transmission to support existing and new clean energy infrastructure.
Siting opportunity
MISO, the region’s grid operator, is planning several transmission projects in Minnesota. Routes are preliminary and expected to be sited in 2025 and 2026.
Challenges
Siting prohibition
The Minnesota Department of Transportation previously prohibited co-location of electric transmission lines on controlled access highways and interstates. Through the work of the NextGen Highways Minnesota Coalition, in May 2024, Governor Tim Walz signed into law new legislation that opens all highways in the state for co-location with high-voltage transmission. However, more can be done to ensure that transmission builders and state agencies give due consideration to the use of highway corridors.
Our work
Having succeeded in lifting the barrier to co-location, we are now engaging with Minnesota Coalition members and other stakeholders, including utilities, to examine opportunities for co-location of new planned transmission, including the MISO LRTP Tranche 2 projects.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is in the process of updating its Utility Accommodation Policy (UAP) to comply with the 2024 law. While MnDOT, utilities, and transmission developers coordinate on highway crossings and nearby alignments, the changes to be implemented to the UAP should clarify the process by which the parties can work together to utilize highway rights-of-way for transmission co-location.
Coalition members
