Public Hearings

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has scheduled public hearings for landowners, stakeholders, and other interested parties to provide comments on the project’s Certificate of Need Application and Route Permit Amendment.

*The hearings end when all present attendees have commented or at the indicated end time, whichever comes first. Please arrive at the meeting start time to ensure participation.

If any reasonable accommodation is needed so that you may fully participate in these meetings, for example sign language or large print materials, please contact the Office of Administrative Hearings at 651-361-7900 (voice) at least one week before the meeting.

Online Hearing
Date: October 7, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.

The hearing ends when all present attendees have commented or at 8:00 p.m., whichever comes first. Please arrive at the meeting start time to ensure participation.

Join by WebEx (Webinar) Link: https://minnesota.webex.com
Webinar Number: 2481 669 4252
Webinar Password: MNPUC (66782 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-415-655-0003  Access Code: 2481 669 4252

Bad Weather? Find out if a meeting is canceled. Call (toll-free) 1-855-731-6208 or 651-201-2213 or visit mn.gov/puc

If you are joining the meeting via WebEx and would like to ask a question or make a comment during the designated portion of the meeting, use the raised-hand function or the chat function to send a message to the meeting moderator. If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *3 on your phone. When it is your turn to speak, your line will be unmuted, and you will be able to ask questions and provide comments.

Additional information and instructions are available at: https://mn.gov/puc/activities/meetings/webex/

Public Hearing Information

Open House Information: Doors will open one hour prior to each hearing. Attendees will have an opportunity to review maps and materials for the project and ask questions of state staff and the Applicants. During this time, comments made by attendees will NOT become a part of the record for Commission consideration unless the attendee submits the comment in writing. Forms will be available for this purpose.

Formal Presentation and Oral Comment Period: State staff and the Applicants will both make presentations during the meeting. State staff will explain the permitting and environmental review processes, and the Applicants will provide an overview of the proposed project. Following the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to offer oral and written comments for the record. The meetings will end when all present attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or at the scheduled end time of the meeting, whichever occurs first. Accordingly, it is recommended that all interested persons arrive at the scheduled start time. The information presented will be the same at all in-person and online meetings.

The purpose of the public hearings and the written comment period is to obtain public input on the proposed project and the Environmental Report (ER) and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the certificate of need and route permit amendment applications. Specifically, interested persons will have the opportunity to: (1) ask questions of state staff and the applicant; (2) offer oral and written comments on the merits of the proposed project and the ER; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for the route permit amendment.

• Comments received at the hearings and during the comment period will be used to inform the record and help the Commission make its final decision.
• The information presented will be the same at all in-person and online hearings.
• The hearings will end when all attendees have had the opportunity to comment and all other business has been concluded, or the scheduled end time of the hearing, whichever occurs first.
• Members of the public may participate without the necessity of intervening as a party; representation by legal counsel is permitted but not required.

Comment Period
Written comments will be accepted through October 27, 2026, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket numbers 25-116 and 09-1056 in all communications. Comments received after the close of the comment period may or may not be considered by the Commission.

Topics for Comment

• Should the Commission grant a certificate of need for the proposed transmission line project?

• Should the Commission issue an amended route permit?

• If granted, what additional conditions or requirements should be included in the route permit?

Public Meetings

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission conducted public information and environmental report scoping meetings for landowners, stakeholders, and other interested parties to provide comments on the project’s Certificate of Need Application and Route Permit Amendment. Click here to view the full notice.