Lemon Hill Solar – WHAT?!?!
October 30th, 2026
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 Denial of an application is rare, I know the Freeborn Wind application was originally denied, the application withdrawn, until Commerce and Xcel changed the rules, moved the goal posts, and applied again.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.