Power line project announces preferred routes
January 8th, 2009The preferred and alternate routes for the proposed CapX 2020 electrical power upgrades have been announced.
CapX 2020 is a joint initiative of 11 utilities, including Xcel Energy, Great River Energy and Minnesota Valley Electric Co-op, in Minnesota and the surrounding region, to expand the electrical transmission grid to ensure continued reliable service. Studies show that customer demand for electricity would grow by up to 6,000 megawatts by 2020. The first group of CapX 2020 projects consists of three 345 kV transmission lines, including a line from Brookings, SD to Hampton.
CapX 2020 recently submitted its application to the Minnesota Department of Commerce for its preferred and alternate routes. Each route includes a 1,000 foot wide corridor that expands to 3,000 feet as it nears a proposed substation or river crossing.
The Department of Commerce will study the application for both routes and later begin an environmental impact statement that looks at the impact the proposed line will have on humans and animals.
Landowners in the study corridors will soon receive letters from CapX 2020.
The preferred route in Sibley County would cross southern Sibley County between State Highway 19 and the Sibley-Nicollet County line, crossing the Minnesota River near the solid waste treatment ponds at Le Sueur, south of Henderson.
The alternate route is proposed to cross Sibley County north of Arlington, before heading north and hooking up with Highway 25. The alternate route would have the line cross the Minnesota River along at an existing 69 kV power line southwest of Belle Plaine.
The primary route would require approximately 30 miles less of power line. The route from Brookings to Hampton was estimated to cost up t $755 million in 2007.
More information about the project is available at www.capx2020.com or toll free phone line at 1-888-473-2279.
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February 6th, 2009 at 8:14 am
If you’re concerned about the routing, now is the time fir individuals, local governments, and organizations to sign up for the Citizen Task Force(s) being formed by MN Dept of Commerce Office of Energy Security. For more info http://www.nocapx2020.info The Task Force is to review and vet the application, raise environmental, social, economic issues associated with the route, and propose alternatives, all to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement. This has to be done now, as alternatives must be addressed in the EIS for the PUC to consider them in its routing decision. Contact Scott Ek scott.ek@state.mn.us to sign up for the Citizens Advisory Task Force.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:41 am
[...] Here’s a general article about CapX 2020 in the Gaylord newspaper: Power line project announces preferred routes [...]