Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is Minnkota Power Cooperative?
• Why are new transmission lines being proposed?
• Where will the energy that flows on the new lines come from?
• Will wind energy be on the new lines?
• Who will benefit from the transmission improvements?
• How will I find out if my property is potentially affected?
• How can I get involved?
• What permits are required for the Project?
• What is the regulatory process?
• What do transmission structures look like?
• How much right of way will be required on either side of the line?
• What can impacted landowners expect in the form of compensation?
• Will the new lines be safe?
• What about EMF?
• Why not build the new lines underground?
• When will the lines be built?
• How much will the lines cost? Will my bills go up?
• How close will the transmission line be to houses?
• Will the project impact radio, television, cell phone, and GPS reception?
  

Who is Minnkota Power Cooperative?

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, N.D. Back to top

Why are new transmission lines being proposed?

Minnkota is currently entering into a new agreement with Minnesota Power, located in Duluth, Minn., which will provide additional long-term baseload power supply for Minnkota and will allow Minnesota Power to develop significant wind energy facilities in central North Dakota.

The Milton R. Young Station is a lignite-fired electric power plant located near Center, N.D., with two operational units: Young 1 and Young 2. This new agreement between Minnkota and Minnesota Power calls for Minnesota Power to purchase the transmission line built in 1977 that connects to Young 2. Minnesota Power will use that line to deliver new wind energy from Center to Duluth.

In exchange for this line, Minnesota Power will transfer its 50 percent of the energy rights it now has in Young 2 to Minnkota. To deliver the energy produced by Young 2 to Minnkota’s service area, Minnkota will build a new transmission line from Center to Grand Forks, N.D. Back to top

Where will the energy that flows on the new lines come from?

The Milton R. Young Station is the primary generating facility for Minnkota. 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 proposed project, Minnesota Power will transfer its 50 percent of the energy rights to Minnkota over a 13-year period beginning in 2013. Back to top

Will wind energy be on the new lines?

One of the goals of the project will free up the capacity of an existing transmission line in North Dakota to carry wind energy. North Dakota ranks first in the country for wind energy potential and Minnkota continues to develop wind energy in North Dakota. The immediate purpose of the Center to Grand Forks Project is to allow energy from proposed Minnesota Power wind energy facilities to be transmitted over the existing HVDC transmission line (currently used by Young 2). Power from Young 2 will be carried over the new line. Future opportunities to carry renewable energy over the new line may also exist. Back to top

Who will benefit from the transmission improvements?

All electricity customers in the Minnkota service area will benefit from a more robust and reliable electric transmission system. The expansion will also increase the capacity of the existing electric grid system to carry wind energy. The expansion of the renewable energy industry in North Dakota will benefit the entire state and region. Back to top

How will I find out if my property is potentially affected?

Minnkota plans extensive outreach to property owners and community members within the study corridors. This website and the project information line (800-473-5679) will be maintained to provide up-to-date information regarding the progress of the project. Meetings are being held with landowners, local governments and the public to help determine the final route of the transmission line and identify property impacts. These initial meetings will be helpful in documenting property ownership and all avoidance areas in the potential corridor. A contact list will be maintained that will be used to mail important project information as well as announce upcoming public meetings.

Current project maps are available on the Resources page and you can leave your comments for the study team on the Contact Us page. You can also call the project information line at 800-473-5679. Your call will be returned in a timely manner. Minnkota is dedicated to keeping the public involved in the public process, please feel free to contact a member of the team at any time. Back to top 

How can I get involved?

You can provide comments to Minnkota on both routing and project need at public meetings, on the Contact Us page, or on the project information line (800-473-5679). All comments, information and suggestions are valued and will be responded to in a prompt manner. Also, go to the Contact Us page to join the mailing list to keep informed on project activities and public events. Back to top

What permits are required for the Project?

If financing is provided by the USDA Rural Development's Electric Program, Minnkota is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Federal permits may be required by agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS).

Minnkota will follow the North Dakota Regulatory Process by applying for two permits from the Public Service Commission (PSC): a Certificate of Corridor Compatibility (N.D.C.C. Section 49-03) and a Route Permit (N.D. Admin Code 69-02). Additional permits from state agencies may be required including the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Department of Health. Other state agencies will be consulted including but not limited to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Parks and Recreations and the North Dakota State Water Commission.

In addition to the federal and state permit requirements, local Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) along with other local permits may be required. Minnkota will coordinate with local officials throughout the Project. Back to top

What is the regulatory process?

As Minnkota is seeking financing from the USDA Rural Development's Electric Program, Minnkota is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The regulatory process is outlined in 7 CFR 1794.

Minnkota will follow the North Dakota Regulatory Process by applying for two permits from the Public Service Commission (PSC): a Certificate of Corridor Compatibility (N.D.C.C. Section 49-03) and a Route Permit (N.D. Admin Code 69-02).Back to top

What do transmission structures look like?

The structures being planned for this 345 kV transmission line are single-pole steel structures that vary in height from about 120 feet to 170 feet, and have spans (or distance) between structures on an average of 1,000 feet. Structures for the most part will be set on foundations but may be embedded in the ground without foundations. Back to top

How much right of way will be required on either side of the line?

The voltage and the type of transmission structure being built determine the size of the right of way. For a 345 kV transmission line, the typical right of way is up to 150 feet wide. Back to top

What can impacted landowners expect in the form of compensation?

Minnkota will provide a one-time easement payment to property owners who host power lines based on the market value of the land and also they will receive payments for any crop or land damage that is caused by the construction or by maintenance of the line. The easement gives Minnkota permission to build, maintain and operate the transmission line. Property owners retain ownership of the land and may continue to use the land around transmission structures. Easements typically last 99 years. Back to top

Will the new lines be safe?

Yes. Every effort is made to ensure safety during construction, operation and maintenance of transmission lines. Lines and line infrastructure are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions. Protective devices at line terminals stop the electricity flow under any abnormal operating circumstances. Utility practices meet or exceed standards set by national electric safety codes. Back to top

What about EMF?

Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) are created by anything that conducts electricity, including transmission lines, household appliances and business equipment. These fields are strongest closest to their source, so the farther away you are from the source, the less EMF reaches you. EMF exposure from transmission lines, which are high in the air and inside the negotiated easement, is minimal.

Decades of scientific and medical research, reviewed by science organizations and government agencies, have found no cause/effect evidence of threats to human health from EMF.

For more information, as well as an extensive list of references, review a booklet prepared by the National Institute of Environmental Health Services, National Institute of Health. Back to top

Why not build the new lines underground?

Minnkota is proposing overhead lines because of reliability and cost. Underground transmission lines generally cost up to 10 times as much as overhead lines; that's a cost impact customers cannot bear. The technology to build lines underground for long distances is also extremely difficult to manage. With overhead lines, air cools the lines and keeps them at a safe operating temperature. Underground lines require cooling mechanisms, which increases cost and decreases reliability. Locating and repairing underground line failures also takes longer, leading to longer outages. The reactive losses of underground lines are substantially higher than overhead lines, and installation requires lengthy, disruptive construction techniques. Design concerns such as capacity and heat dissipation are frequent limitations. Underground systems are justified primarily in heavily populated downtown urban centers, where right of way is severely limited for overhead lines. Back to top

When will the lines be built?

Line construction is expected between 2010 and 2013 after a rigorous public process to determine need and routing. Schedules can change so Minnkota will publish meeting notices in newspapers and on this site. Please continue to check these resources for updated information. Back to top

How much will the lines cost? Will my bills go up?

The construction of the line and associated substations is currently estimated at $280 million dollars. Adjusted costs for the project will be passed on to the eleven distribution cooperatives served by Minnkota through a future wholesale rate structure. At this time, it is not known what the impact on individual cooperative members rates might be. However, the building of the new line provides the lowest cost energy solution to meet the future needs of Minnkota and its consumers. Back to top

How close will the transmission line be to houses?

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 the occupied house if stated in writing. Avoidance criteria laws can be found in the “North Dakota Energy Conversion and Transmission Facility Siting Act (49-22-05.1)”. Back to top

Will the project impact radio, television, cell phone, and GPS reception?

FM radio receivers usually do not pick up interference from transmission lines. If there is AM radio frequency interference, it typically occurs immediately under a transmission line and dissipates rapidly within the ROW to either side.

A two-way mobile radio located immediately adjacent to and behind a large metallic structure may experience interference because of signal-blocking effects. This would generally require a movement of less than 50 feet by the mobile unit adjacent to a metallic tower.

Television interference is rare but may occur when a large transmission structure is aligned between the receiver and a weak distant signal, creating a shadow effect. The transition to digital TV broadcasts will be complete by the time the Project is constructed. Digital reception is in most cases more tolerant of noise and somewhat less resistant to multipath reflections (i.e., reflections from structures) than analog broadcasts.

Satellite television, GPS units and cellular service will not be impacted by the project. Back to top