Learn what’s next for the
Minnesota Energy Connection project
June 2025
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the Minnesota Energy Connection’s applications for a Certificate of Need and Route Permit in April 2025, and published the written order for the project on June 10, 2025. Landowners on and adjacent to the approved route and local officials were mailed a packet of information that includes the Commission’s written order, contact information, project maps, and other information landowners and officials may need as the project moves forward.
A detailed map of the approved route can be viewed here.
Representatives from Xcel Energy are in the process of negotiating easements with landowners along the project route, and we are conducting detailed design and engineering for the project and preparing for construction to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
You can review the Commission’s written order and mailing here. All information submitted to the Commission during the proceeding can be viewed on the Commission’s e-dockets website (eDockets / Public Utilities Commission) and searching docket numbers 22-131 and 22-132 (22 stands for 2022, the year in which the proceeding began).
If you have questions for Xcel Energy, you can reach us at 1-888-292-4714 or by email at [email protected].
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.