Project Status: PLANNING
Strategic Purpose: Asset Reliability & Diversification
Project Contact: Email the project team
Related Resource(s): Project map

Wabasha Relocation Project

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission granted an oral decision approving the Wabasha Relocation Project Route Permit Application on June 12, 2025. The written approval will be released in the coming days and posted on the website once final.  

About
The Wabasha Relocation Project will relocate an existing electric transmission line that serves a critical role in providing reliable electric service to homes and businesses in southeast Minnesota. As a critical services provider, Dairyland Power Cooperative is relocating this existing transmission line to a new right-of-way.  

Project Details  
The Wabasha Relocation Project includes relocating 13.3 miles of 161-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between Plainview Township and Greenfield Township in Wabasha County, Minn. It also includes building a new substation near the City of Kellogg, Minn.   

Current Project Status 
In March 2024, Dairyland Power Cooperative filed a Route Permit Application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for the Wabasha Relocation Project. Minnesota law requires applicants to obtain a Route Permit from the PUC before a transmission line project can be built.    

The PUC and Department of Commerce conducted a formal environmental review; public scoping meetings were held virtually on June 11, and in-person on June 12, 2024.   

Following the scoping meetings, the Department of Commerce produced an Environmental Assessment. The Environmental Assessment was made available in January 2025. A public hearing before an Administrative Law Judge was held, where landowners could submit additional feedback regarding the Project.  On Feb. 11-12, 2025, the Office of Administrative Hearings held in-person and virtual (via webinar) public hearings on the Route Permit application. Comments were accepted through March 4, 2025.  And Administrative Law Judge will review the entire record and make a recommendation to the PUC. The PUC will then review Administrative Law Judge’s report, all public feedback, and the environmental analysis before issuing a final decision on the route, which is expected in 2025. 

You can view the project documents following the steps below: 

Regulatory Review Process 
The public can receive digital project updates from the Public Utilities Commission by following the steps below: 

  1. Go to https://mn.gov/puc/edockets/ 
  2. Click on “Go to eDockets” then click on “eFiling Home/Login” in the left menu.  
  3. Select “Docket Number” from the Type of Subscriptions drop-down box. 
    • For the Route Permit docket, type in “23” from the first Docket number and enter a dash “-“ followed by “388” in the “Docket #’s” box before clicking on the “Add to List” button.    
  4. View your preferred documents. 

Regulatory Review Process – Email Subscription 
The public can receive digital project updates from the Public Utilities Commission by following the steps below:  

  1. Go to https://mn.gov/puc/edockets/  
  2. Click on “Go to eDockets” then click on “eService” near the top of the page.   
  3. Enter your email address and hit submit. You will receive an automated email to the address you entered.  
  4. Click “manage subscriptions” within the email.  
  5. Create an account by selecting “Register” or sign in if you already have an account. 
  6. Once you arrive at your account homepage, select “Subscriptions”. 
  7. Create a subscription to the Route Permit by typing in the Docket Number “23-388”, then select “Create”. 
  8. You will now be subscribed to the docket.  

OR

Contact:

Jim Sullivan 
Department of Commerce

Phone: 651.539.1059 
Email: jim.sullivan@state.mn.us 

Trevor Culbertson 
Public Utilities Commission 

Phone: 651-201-2257 
Email: trevor.culbertson@state.mn.us 

The Route Permit Application is available for viewing here. 

Anticipated Schedule  
2022  

  • Project identified by MISO  

2023  

  • Route development process  
  • Public and stakeholder outreach  
  • Preliminary engineering  

2024 – 2025  

  • Submit and obtain Route Permit Application (RPA) 
  • Land surveying and design  
  • Working with landowners to purchase easements  
  • Acquire additional permits  

2026 – 2027  

  • Construction  

2028  

  • In-service  
  • Project area restoration  

*Schedule may be subject to change.  

Project At A Glance

County where facilities may be placed

Wabasha, Minn.

Distribution Cooperative Service Territories

People's Energy Logo​

Line length

13.3 miles 161 kV

Voltage

161 kV

Estimated project cost

$27 million

End points

Minnesota: A new 161/69 kV Substation that Dairyland will be constructing, located near the Mississippi River crossing by the Greenfield Township in Wabasha County, Minn.

Minnesota: Wabaco Substation

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