Alexandria to
Big Oaks

Community Engagement

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 eastern segment route permit. Click here to view the full notice.

Date	Time	Hearing Location
June 13, 2024	10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Open House 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Formal Hearing	Ally Cat 620 US Highway 75 Ortonville, Minnesota 56278
June 13, 2024	5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Open House 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Formal Hearing	Benson Northside Elementary 1800 Nevada Avenue Benson, Minnesota 56215
June 17, 2024	10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Open House 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Formal Hearing	Broadway Ballroom 115 30th Avenue East Alexandria, Minnesota 56308
June 17, 2024	5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Open House 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Formal Hearing	Monticello Community Center 505 Walnut Street Monticello, Minnesota 55362
June 18, 2024	10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Open House 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Formal Hearing	College of St. Benedict Gorecki Hall, Room 204 37 South College Avenue South St. Joseph, Minnesota 56374

If any reasonable accommodation is needed to enable you to fully participate in these hearings, please contact the Commission at 651-296-0406 or 1-800-657-3782 at least one week in advance of the meeting. To find out if a hearing is canceled due to bad weather or other call 1-855-731-6208 or visit mn.gov/puc.

Online Hearing via WebEx

Date: June 18, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m.

Join by WebEx Link: WebEx
Webinar Number: 2489 794 6849
Webinar Password: PSdrH9FiG43 (77374934 from phones)

Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330 Toll Free   Access Code: 248 979 46849
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 chat or raised-hand functions 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

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 the Applicants and state staff. During this time, comments made by attendees will become a part of the record for consideration only if the attendee submits the comment in writing. Forms will be available for this purpose.

The public hearings will be conducted by an administrative law judge with the Office of Administrative Hearings, who will provide the Commission with findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a recommendation.

The purpose of the public hearings is to obtain public input on the proposed project and compile the record for the Commission to consider in making a final decision on the certificate of need and route permit 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 on the environmental assessment; and (3) suggest possible conditions to be considered for inclusion in a route permit.

• 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 July 8, 2024, by 4:30 p.m. Please include the docket number 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 Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks 345 kV Transmission Project?
• If granted, what additional conditions or requirements, if any, should be included in the certificate of need?
• Should the Commission grant a route permit for the proposed Alexandria to Big Oaks 345 kV Transmission Project (Eastern Segment)?
• If granted, what additional conditions or requirements, if any, should be included in the route permit?

Submit Comments

Online:	https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/public-comments
Email:	consumer.puc@state.mn.us
U.S. Mail:	Consumer Affairs Office Minnesota Public Utilities Commission 121 7th Place East, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101

Comments will be made available to the public via the Commission's website, except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The Commission does not edit or delete personal identifying information from submissions.