Frequently Asked Questions

Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. (Minnkota) is a regional generation and transmission cooperative formed in 1940 that serves 11 member-owner distribution cooperatives. It also serves as operating agent for the Northern Municipal Power Agency, an association of 12 municipal utilities in the same service region. Together, the Joint System serves more than 130,000 customers. Minnkota’s service area of 34,500 square miles is located in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota and is headquartered in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

The Center to Grand Forks transmission line project (Project) is needed to meet increasing demand for electricity in Minnkota’s service territory in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. The Project is also needed to improve grid stability and reliability, especially in the northern Red River Valley.

From 2000 to 2009, Minnkota’s load (the amount of electric power delivered to and required by its customers) grew at a rate of 2.9 percent annually. In addition, Minnkota’s 2009 Load Forecast study showed that load will continue to grow at a rate of approximately 1.9 percent annually over the next 25 years. In order to adequately serve this future load growth, Minnkota must increase its baseload generation resources. In particular, additional baseload generation is needed by 2013 to address an increased demand for electricity use to serve residences, commercial accounts, and pipeline pumping projects.

For several years leading up to this Project, Minnkota analyzed various options to meet its needs (i.e., studies were commissioned to look at diverse alternatives such as hydropower, nuclear power, gas, additional coal-fired generation, etc.). From this process, a solution emerged that was both cost-effective and could be implemented within the necessary timeframe. First, to meet the need for additional baseload generation, Minnkota entered into a mutually beneficial arrangement with Minnesota Power in late 2009 to secure the entire generating output of the Young 2 power station located in Center, North Dakota (see following question for details of the agreement). That agreement gave Minnkota the baseload generation it needed to meet the projected growth in demand.

The next step was to find the best way to deliver that power to Minnkota’s members and customers, especially those in the northern Red River Valley, where a new line would significantly improve the stability of the regional transmission grid. Consequently, formal planning for a transmission line from Center to Grand Forks began in early 2009, starting with a study of potential corridors between the Young 2 power station in Center and the Prairie substation in Grand Forks. From the Prairie substation, the power could then be distributed into Minnkota’s service territory.

All electrical customers in the Minnkota service area and the surrounding region will benefit from this proposed Project, as it will contribute significantly to a more robust and reliable electric transmission system. The entire North Dakota transmission system also benefits from the addition of a new transmission resource, as it will help accommodate future generation interconnections.

The Center to Grand Forks Project is part of a unique arrangement that allows Minnkota Power to address its need for additional baseload generation resources without having to build new generation facilities. As part of this arrangement, Minnkota entered into an agreement to amend an existing power purchase agreement (PPA) with Minnesota Power and Square Butte Electric Cooperative (Square Butte). Minnesota Power will transfer to Minnkota its rights to the generation from the Square Butte-owned Milton R Young Station Unit 2 (Young 2) power station. This agreement will ultimately give Minnkota 100 percent of the Young 2 generation capacity. In return, Minnkota has agreed to transfer its rights for transmitting power from Young 2 on the Square Butte high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line that terminates near Duluth, Minnesota.

The new agreements between Minnkota, Minnesota Power, and Square Butte provide Minnkota with additional baseload power supply without the need to construct a new coal-fired plant.

Minnkota can begin acquiring additional baseload generation from Young 2 in 2013, but first it must construct an alternating-current (AC) transmission line to Minnkota’s service territory in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota.

Since 2005, regional transmission system studies have demonstrated the need for improvements due to systemic voltage instability and load-serving issues. In addition, these studies have found that the existing AC transmission system is already operating near capacity, even without any additional load growth.

System studies indicate that additional transmission into the northeastern part of North Dakota from the area of concentrated generation in central North Dakota is the preferred alternative in order to address these issues within Minnkota’s service territory. In short, the proposed Project will effectively address future load growth, system voltage stability, and load-serving issues in Minnkota’s service territory. It will provide a direct link to Minnkota’s service territory, while providing a major improvement to the regional transmission grid and a sound technical solution to the well-documented northern Red River Valley voltage stability issue. Therefore, the proposed Project is the optimal alternative to address Minnkota’s and the region’s needs.

The Milton R. Young Station, which is the primary generation facility for Minnkota, will provide the energy that flows on the new line. Located near the town of Center, the Young Station consists of two units, Young 1 and Young 2. Young 2, which began generating electricity on May 11, 1977, is owned by Square Butte Electric Cooperative and operated by Minnkota. Currently, the output from Young 2 is purchased under contract by Minnkota and Minnesota Power. Under the new agreement, Minnesota Power will transfer its 50 percent of the Young 2 energy rights to Minnkota over a 13-year period beginning in 2013. The new Center to Grand Forks line will then be the primary outlet for all Young 2 energy after 2013.

After completion of the permitting process and engineering, line construction may begin in spring 2012. Construction is expected to last 18 months to two years, with operation of the new line anticipated in the latter part of 2013.

Construction of the proposed Project is currently estimated at $312 million. Adjusted costs for the proposed Project will be passed on to the 11 distribution cooperatives served by Minnkota through a future wholesale rate structure. At this time, the impact on individual cooperative member’s rates is not known. However, the proposed Project provides the lowest-cost energy solution to meet the future needs of Minnkota and its consumers.

Minnkota has engaged property owners, community members, and interested stakeholders in an extensive outreach program. Public involvement in the proposed Project has been a key priority for Minnkota from the beginning, with nearly 20 public meetings held along the corridor area since early 2009.

Minnkota has strived to go above-and-beyond the normal regulatory requirements for public noticing and review to ensure that all those potentially affected by the proposed Project have had every opportunity to make their voice heard. As a result of these efforts, a substantial amount of public and stakeholder input has been collected and considered in developing the corridor. All comments were reviewed and considered during the corridor development and routing process. Public input was also used to develop informative outreach materials.

In addition to public meetings, outreach tools include the Project website, a toll-free information line (800-473-5679), quarterly On the Line newsletters, fact sheets, and an extensive stakeholder database. The website provides Project updates and features a complete resource library with Project documents, maps, FAQs, comment form, contact information and more.

Minnkota’s commitment to ongoing public communication will continue through the remaining state review milestones, as well as during construction. As always, the website and Project information line (800-473-5679) will be maintained to provide up-to-date information regarding the progress of the Project.

Minnkota is committed to working closely with landowners along the proposed corridor to address any potential issues or concerns. The extensive corridor selection process has given landowners the time and opportunity to understand the Project and its potential effects and provide input on routing issues.

Recently, Project right-of-way agents have been meeting with landowners whose property falls within the proposed 1,000-foot-wide corridor. These agents have been coordinating the landowner compensation and option agreements for the necessary easements required to build the new line. Agents meet individually with the landowners to discuss the easement and structure locations. Each landowner is given individual attention to ensure all questions are answered and all issues are addressed.

At any time, you can provide comments to the Center to Grand Forks Project Team via the Contact Us webpage and the Project information line (800-473-5679), or through a Project right-of-way agent. Minnkota reviews all comments, questions, and suggestions, providing direct responses whenever possible. You can also join our mailing list to keep informed on Project activities and public events.

The proposed Project must meet a number of federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. Because Minnkota is requesting financing assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to construct the proposed Project, an Environmental Assessment with Scoping (EA) was conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). RUS is required to complete this federally mandated review prior to approving financing assistance. Various permits or approvals are required by federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Federal Aviation Administration.

At the state level, Minnkota is now proceeding through the North Dakota regulatory process by applying for an approval and a permit from the Public Service Commission (PSC): a Certificate of Corridor Compatibility and a Route Permit (respectively). Additional permits from state agencies may be required, including the North Dakota Department of Transportation,. Other state agencies are also being consulted, including but not limited to, the State Historical Society of North Dakota, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

In addition to the federal and state permit and approval requirements, county and township Conditional Use Permits (CUPs), along with other local permits, are required. Minnkota is currently coordinating with local officials to secure these permits and approvals.  

For this proposed Project, most of the structures will be single-pole, tubular steel, self-supporting, and self-weathering structures supported by drilled pier foundations. The structures are typically 140 feet tall and spaced about 1,000 feet apart, on average.

Because the typical right-of-way is 150-feet-wide, 75 feet will be needed on either side of the line. In some areas, Minnkota may request a wider right-of-way to facilitate construction or specialty structures (such as at the Missouri River). For more information on right-of-way issues, please review the Right-of-Way and Easement Factsheet.

A 500-foot-wide option area provides siting options for landowners, right-of-way agents, and engineers to consider in order to determine potential structure locations. In short, having a 500-foot-wide option area allows for shifting of potential structure locations during the design process without revising the option agreements. For more information, please review the Right-of-Way and Easement Factsheet.

Compensation for the Project is based on a two-payment formula that is used for all landowners. The total easement payment consists of an overhead easement payment and a per pole payment. Therefore, compensation for each easement varies, based on several factors, including the local market value of land, the calculated acreage required for the right-of-way, current land use, and an the number of poles located in the easement. Right-of-way agents prepare a specific estimate for each landowner. For more information, please review the Right-of-Way and Easement Factsheet.

Every effort is made to ensure safety during construction, operation, and maintenance of the transmission line. The infrastructure is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, and protective devices at line terminals stop the electricity flow under any abnormal operating circumstances. Minnkota’s utility practices meet or exceed standards set by National Electric Safety Code (NESC).

The EMF values for transmission lines like the one Minnkota is proposing are considered extremely low-frequency (ELF) fields. Several scientific organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American Physical Society and National Academy of Sciences, have stated that the body of evidence in regard to ELF-EMF, particularly magnetic fields, indicates that exposure to these fields do not present a human health hazard.

Overhead transmission line rights-of-way exist all around the country and around the world, and no legitimate public health agency has proposed that an "unsafe" region exists in the proximity of these lines. Many public health agencies, American Cancer Society, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control have not set power-line EMF exposure guidelines because they have not found the scientific studies sufficiently supportive of the need for a numerical EMF exposure guideline or a "safe distance" criterion.

For more information, please review the EMF Factsheet.

Minnkota is proposing overhead lines because of reliability and cost. Underground systems are justified primarily in heavily populated downtown urban centers, where right-of-way is severely limited for overhead lines. Underground transmission lines generally cost more than 10 times as much as overhead lines. For a 250-mile-long transmission line, that's a cost impact customers simply cannot bear. Moreover, the technology to build lines underground for long distances is extremely problematic. With overhead lines, air cools the lines and keeps them at a safe operating temperature. Underground lines require cooling mechanisms, which increase cost and decrease reliability. Locating and repairing underground line failures also takes much longer, leading to longer power outages. Finally, installation of underground lines requires lengthy and environmentally disruptive construction techniques. In short, from both a fiscal and practical standpoint, underground lines do not make sense for this type of transmission project.

Currently there are no interconnections for wind facilities. However, the proposed Project likely frees some capacity elsewhere on the existing transmission system in North Dakota to carry wind energy. All interconnection requests will be addressed according to Minnkota’s Interconnection Request Queue.

Minnkota is required to route the transmission line at least 500 feet from occupied houses. The 500-foot avoidance criteria may be waived by the owner of an occupied house if stated in writing. 

While interference is generally rare, if any interference occurs, Minnkota will work with the affected party to correct the issue until full reception is obtained. Typically, re-tightening hardware on the transmission line and appropriate modification of the receiving antenna system will resolve any interference problems. For more detailed information, please refer to the Radio, Television, Cell Phone and GPS Interference Factsheet.

Once the permitting and design work are complete, structures are staked and reviewed with landowners to make sure they are in satisfactory locations. Clearing crews then remove any trees in the right-of-way, rebuild or place gates in fences, move topsoil aside to protect it and establish access for equipment along the right-of-way. During construction, all heavy equipment is moved within the easement right-of-way, unless approved by the landowner.

Typical Transmission Line Construction Steps:

1. Construction starts with auguring holes for foundations (40-80 feet deep, depending on soil conditions)

2. Rebar and anchor bolt cages are set (providing strength for concrete foundation and connection point for structures).

3. Concrete is poured and allowed to set for up to 28 days.
4. While concrete is setting, steel structures are laid out near foundations and ‘framed’ (assembled). 
5. Structures are then lifted into place and set on the foundation.
6. Once an entire segment of structures is in place, crews with the help of helicopters will string wire between poles. Wires are set with proper tensions and clamped into place.
7. Crews then restore the right-of-way back to pre-existing conditions by removing any excavated soils, returning good top soil and ‘deep plowing’ to remove any compaction.

During restoration, right-of-way agents observe where ground has been disturbed, hold discussions with landowners and make calculations for crop damage payments. The end result is a transmission line with a minimal ‘footprint.’

Minnkota will follow the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC) guidelines set in Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines and Mitigating Bird Collisions with Power Lines (www.aplic.org). The poles are constructed in a manner that reduces the potential for nest building on the structure and crossarms. In addition, the conductors are spaced further apart to reduce the likelihood of electrocution. 

Minnkota will use bird flight diverters, where needed, to minimize bird collision with transmission lines and help protect species of birds within the proposed Project area. Bird flight diverters are used to make the line seem larger to flying birds, which helps avoid collisions with the wires. When properly installed, bird flight diverters have proven to significantly reduce bird collisions and injury.

Minnkota will compensate for crop damages that occur during construction. For more information, please review the Right-of-Way and Easement Factsheet.