Learn what’s next for the
Minnesota Energy Connection project
April 2025
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the MN Energy Connection transmission line project on April 10, 2025. Along with the approval of the project’s Certificate of Need, the Commission approved the modified blue route. A detailed map of the approved route can be viewed here.
Once complete in 2028, the 175-mile Minnesota Energy Connection transmission line will carry electricity generated in southwest Minnesota to the existing electric grid at Xcel Energy’s Sherco plant site in Becker, Minnesota. The line will deliver enough energy to power more than 1 million homes across the Upper Midwest, fully replacing the energy generated by the last two Sherco coal units as they retire by 2030.
Xcel Energy will now begin working with landowners to negotiate easement purchases, and work on detailed design, engineering, and other pre-construction activities. Construction will begin in the central portion of the project in early 2026.
Questions about the project can be emailed to MN [email protected] or by calling 1-888-292-4714.
Xcel Energy thanks all landowners and stakeholders for participating in the project over the last three years. We reviewed thousands of comments and appreciate everyone who took the time to attend meetings, reach out by email or phone, submit comments to Xcel Energy or the State of Minnesota, or participated in other ways. This project was improved through this robust participation.
The Commission is responsible for reviewing applications for new high-voltage transmission lines.
We encourage you to sign up to receive email updates from the Commission when new items are filed in the dockets. To receive email notifications when new documents are filed. To subscribe, visit: https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/Efiling, select Subscribe to eDockets and follow the prompts.
AFTER ‘prompts’ select docket number 22-131 (Certificate of Need) or 22-132 (Route Permit application).
Voluntary pre-construction property access
We are contacting some landowners along the blue and purple routes to begin preliminary environmental and soil reviews to assist with project design and engineering. Agreeing to this early access is not associated with the Route Permit review and does not affect eventual easement negotiations we will have with landowners on an approved route.
Construction laydown yards and road use agreements
Project representatives are also working with some landowners as we identify properties we can use to stage equipment and material, and we are beginning to identify potential roads that may be used for hauling and construction access. As part of this process we will work with local road authorities for appropriate permits and approvals.
Xcel Energy is leading the clean energy transition with our plan to reduce carbon emissions 85% by 2030, moving closer to our vision to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050.
As part of this transition, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s plan to retire all of its Upper Midwest coal generation, including the three Sherco units and replace them with renewable energy sources. In its order approving our Upper Midwest Energy Plan in early 2022, the Commission directed us to begin the permitting process for transmission lines to connect and deliver renewable energy to our customers, including the MN Energy Connection project to connect at Sherco.
We filed the Certificate of Need in March 2023. You can review it here.
The route proposals below were filed in October 2023 with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in our Route Permit application. The full application can be reviewed at MN.gov/puc
The revised route options were presented at public open houses in June 2023 and we are asking for feedback on the route options by the end of July.