Legalectric

On October 22, 2026, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission met to consider the site permit for Lemon Hill Solar (PUC Docket GS-25-126. This meeting was one of the most difficult to watch, and I’m sure glad I wasn’t representing anyone on this project.

ALJ’s Recommendation

I’d read the ALJ’s Recommendation because of a couple of issues raised, particularly karst, and also erosion, an issue in one of the Wisconsin dockets I’d worked on. The ALJ recommended the permit be denied, giving detailed reasons and citing evidence from the record. Denial of an application is rare, I know the Freeborn Wind application was originally denied, the application withdrawn, until Commerce and Xcel changed the rules, moved the goal posts, and applied again. Of course then it sailed through. I’ve not heard of another recommendation of denial, but ? there could be others, I don’t have an eye on every PUC Docket.

And this –I’ve never seen anything like this:

LISTEN TO THIS MEETING – STARTS AT 33:44:

October 22 Public Utilities Commission Meeting: Start at 33:44 (won’t let me embed)

The written order is not out yet… will update this post when it’s available.

PowerOn Midwest Public hearings start on Monday, November 9th. Do mark you calendars, go over what’s in the docket (CN-25-117), and come on down!!

UPDATED October 20, 21, 23, and 29, 2026

Here are the Resolutions filed thus far by Counties and Townships affected by PowerOn Midwest 765kV transmission (PUC Docket CN-25-117) through their communities. Some are forms, fill in the blank even, and I’m hoping that there will be more individual ones filed — individually drafted filings have greater weight, greater impact.

Cities:

Counties:

Townships:

A few days ago, an odd filing hit the inbox, Minutes from the May 28, 2026 Public Utilities Commission meeting, about 5 months after the meeting!

Here’s what’s interesting. Remember the Biennial Transmission Plan, instituted before CapX 2020 erupted, with the intent of requiring transmission plans to be publicly disclosed. Minn. Stat. 216B.2425! This was part of the legislative changes in 2001, what a year that was.

Here’s what’s supposed to be in it:

7848.1300 CONTENT OF BIENNIAL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS REPORT.

Over the years, it’s been neglected, and at that May 28, 2026 Commission meeting, Commissioner Hwikwon Ham got some necessary updates through. The first bunch was a round of changes to keep up with the lack of excitement and participation (!), to put it mildly. What changed?

That’s the easy part. What followed was an extensive list for utilities to add to reports from here on in, including info on transmission “alternatives,” increase in transparency – reduction of secrecy, and costs & cost/benefit:

Now that’s interesting. But does that mean diving into that (&%#($%& Biennial Transmission Plan again?

Here’s the full meeting minutes as eFiled:

MISO thinks they can propose something like PowerOn Midwest, this obscenity, 765 kV transmission roaring border to border across Minnesota, part of Tranche 2.1 transmission (MTEP24.zip), and then not show up to the public hearings and face the people, the cities, the townships, and the counties it wants to steamroll? I don’t think so.

Just filed on behalf of North Route Group and NO765MN: