Legalectric

Xcel Energy & Google have applied for a double circuit 345 kV transmission line to hop across Hwy. 52 at 500th from the “North Rochester” substation north of Pine Island to its proposed/planned data center, to the south of 500th with FOUR substations! Yes, that’s the map above.

Pine Island data center transmission

June 2nd, 2026

Today, Xcel Energy and Google (Allen Gleckner, formerly Fresh Energy) filed Responses to Comments in the hearing and docket and their proposed Findings of Fact:

So much transmission, and data centers…

In transmission, “it’s all connected.” Yes, transmission is all connected, and yes, there are data centers (and YES, I need to prettify this… someday!):

BUT careful, the point of the 765 kV is NOT to power data centers — it’s to take the export load off the 345 kV system which is handling both export and all the local load for everything else. Doing that, moving the export up to a 765 kV overlay not only does exactly that, but that 765 kV also provides a lot of additional export capacity, which is what those utilities want. Gotta move that surplus power out in those valleys between the peaks!

With the export power removed, there’s also a lot more capacity to power everything imaginable, including those data centers! For example, above, note there’s that double circuit 345 kV Mankato-Mississippi line going into the “North Rochester” substation, but there’s only one circuit coming out of the substation and then sharing structure with the single circuit CapX 2020! Same with CapX, it’ll now be a double circuit coming down to North Rochester, and remains a single circuit to Wisconsin. And then there’s the Prairie Island-Byron, that ancient single circuit will be upgraded and a 2nd circuit added, so more power there.

This reminds me of geneology, all the charts and graphs and circles and arrows — more than my brain can handle.

p.s. Hermantown may be a whole ‘nother matter!

p.p.s. And there IS this, the letter from Governors, including Walz, of support for Tranche 2.1, which does say:

MISO’s approach in developing a portfolio that seeks to optimize between transmission and generation investments to maintain reliability across MISO’s footprint is even more critical given the potential for long-term local growth from the reshoring of American manufacturing, the growth of electric vehicle adoption, and the recent emergence of data center growth (emphasis added).

Some resources to consider as this transmission routing docket goes forward.

Here’s the draft permit — look for issues not addressed:

And the DNR’s comment – what has been included in the draft permit and what’s missing:

And here’s the application — really need to pick a section of this to review that interests you. There’s something for everyone!

The notice for the public hearings on the Xcel application for transmission for the Pine Island Google Echo Zone data center, Phase I, just hit the inbox after Wednesday’s Prehearing Conference:

Here’s where and when:

There’s also an online hearing, and directions on how to join are in the Notice:

Comments are due by Friday, September 25th, and comments on Findings of Fact are due Friday, October 9::

During the PHC, I’d proposed the option of submitting Findings of Fact, editing or deleting what was proposed, or adding new ones, something normal in the usual process, but in this new ram-it-through process is absent, I wanted to get that option in there. Public participation is being left in the dust, and I don’t want that to happen!!

Also, I was VERY concerned about lack of notice of the Prehearing Conference. HOW CAN PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IF THEY DON’T GET NOTICE?!?!?! This is a new process, with a very short timeline, and many people are interested, showing up for meetings, and commenting in scoping and in the docket generally, but very few were on the notice list for the PHC. WHAT?!?! I requested that those commenting be added to the service list, and many, I hope ALL, were added, and that is MUCH appreciated. People can’t participate if they don’t have notice (and often I think that’s the point of limited service lists — color me jaundiced after 30+ years). Check out the expanded notice list — if you’re not there and want to be on the list, contact saarah.maxon@state.mn.us

Mark your calendars. September 14 & 15 for hearings, September 25 comments are due, and October 9, Findings of Fact.

Here it is. Stay tuned for date(s) of public hearings — need to make solid comments, and lots of them!

In order to make a coherent comment, it’s important to read the application AND the draft permit just released. Plan on having NOT MUCH time, so be concise, AND if you have reports, studies, credible newspaper articles, hand them in as exhibits, quickly explaining what they are.

We’re ON it = time to get to work!