MOTLEY - Great River Energy and Crow Wing Power will host a public information open house Sept. 23 at the Motley United Methodist Church, 847 Third Ave S., to share information about a 14-mile, 115-kV transmission line being proposed in the area.
The public and all interested parties are encouraged to stop by the open house anytime between 4 and 7 p.m. to learn about the project and the state of Minnesota's permitting process. Great River Energy and Crow Wing Power staff will be on hand to describe the project, answer questions and take down feedback and opinions on the project.
The proposed project will ensure continued transmission system reliability as well as economic growth and development in the area.
Great River Energy's Environmental Project Lead Mark Strohfus said following the open house, Great River Energy will consider feedback received in preparing the application for a certificate of need and route permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) for the project. The MPUC will make the ultimate decision on the need for the project and where the transmission line will be built.
"It is important for landowners to be informed about the state permitting process and their opportunities to comment and participate in the process," Strohfus said.
ADVERTISEMENT
"If Great River Energy receives project approval from MPUC late in 2015, representatives of Great River Energy will begin contacting each affected property owner to discuss how the project will impact their property and to begin easement negotiations," said Rick Heuring, GRE senior field representative. "If the project is approved, construction of the new substation and transmission line project would most likely occur in 2017."
The proposed project would connect to the existing Minnesota Power 115-kV "24" transmission line at Cass County Road 35, approximately 1-3/4 miles north of Highway 210. At this location Great River Energy would install a three-way switch structure. From the switch structure, the new 115-kV overhead transmission line would extend southerly approximately 14 miles to serve the new Crow Wing Power Fish Trap Lake distribution substation on Minnesota Pipeline Company's pipeline pumping station property at U.S. Highway. 10 and Holt Road.
The proposed project also includes constructing 1/2 mile of 115-kV transmission line located three miles northwest of Motley in Becker Township, extending south from Minnesota Power's Dog Lake Substation and connecting to an existing 115-kV transmission line.
A fact sheet which includes a detailed map of the proposed route can be found at greatriverenergy.com/motley.
Great River Energy is a not-for-profit cooperative which provides wholesale electric service to Crow Wing Power and 27 other distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
