PUC decision on local wind project set for May 2

After years of delay for the project, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is expected to make a decision Thursday, May 2, on Dodge County Wind, LLC’s, request for permission to construct and operate a wind farm in Dodge, Mower and Steele Counties.
Dodge County Wind, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, has asked the PUC for approval of a Certificate of Need for the project, a Site Permit, and a Route Permit for the up to 259MW Large Wind Energy Conversion System and associated 161 KV Transmission Line. Most of the actual wind turbines will be in Dodge County with some in Steele County. The 27-mile 161 kilovolt transmission line needed to connect to the electric grid and will go to the existing Pleasant Valley Substation in Mower County. The electricity generated will be sold to Great River Energy which supplies electricity to its member co-ops including Steele-Waseca.
At the meeting commission members will be considering whether the environmental assessment is adequate, if they should adopt the administrative law judge’s Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendation, and if they should grant the Certificate of Need, Site Permit and Route Permit.
During public hearings and written comments made to the PUC during the review process the most contentious area has been the route permit.
Three routes were suggested with all of them traveling from western Dodge County to Highway 56. The routes diverge at that point with the Highway 56 route continuing down the highway to south of Waltham where it turns east to the substation. The county road route crosses over Highway 56 and takes county roads to County Road 9 where it goes south to Sargeant and then east to the substation. A hybrid route follows Highway 56 south for a short distance before going east to connect with County Road 9.
While the Environmental Impact Study prepared by the PUC staff recommended the hybrid route, numerous residents favored the route down Highway 56. Dodge County Commissioners also favored the Highway 56 route. Dodge County Wind and Mower County officials both supported the hybrid route going down County Road 9.
In her written report to the PUC, Administrative Law Judge Kimberly Middendorf said that the Hybrid Route Alternative is the most suitable route, adding that the Commission has the authority under Minnesota Statutes to place conditions in an HVTL route permit.
In her recommendation she said the minimum legal requirements have been met for issuance of a Site Permit, Route Permit and Certificate of Need.
The full commission will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the large hearing room, 121 7th PL E, St. Paul. The meeting will also be available online via WebEx.
The Dodge County Wind project is the first agenda item scheduled.
Instructions for viewing the meeting via WebEx are available at https://mn.gov/puc/activities/meetings/webex/.