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• Suzanne Steinhauer State Permit Manager Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy Facility Permitting 85 7th Place East, Suite 500 St. Paul, Minnesota, 55101-2198 Fax: 651-296-2888 Suzanne.steinhauer@state.nm.us Project Description. The Project, as proposed by the Applicant, would replace the existing 69 kV Orono Substation with a new 115 kV Substation at the same location, but with a larger footprint. The Project would connect the new substation to the existing Xcel Energy 115 kV transmission line 0831 through a new double circuit 115 kV transmission lines of approximately 2,040 feet. The Project, as proposed, would also remove approximately 1,030 feet of 115 kV transmission line and replace it with approximately 1,100 feet of new single circuit 115 kV transmission line. While not part of the Route Permit requested by Xcel Energy, approximately 400 feet of the existing Great River Energy 69 kV transmission line BD would be rerouted around the new Orono Substation. Xcel Energy proposes to use steel single-pole structures with spans of approximately 300 to 500 feet between poles; structure heights are anticipated to range from 70 to 90 feet for the single-circuit structures to 75 to 115 feet for the double-circuit structures. Xcel Energy is requesting a route width of approximately 400 feet, or 200 feet either side of the proposed alignment shown in the Application maps. The anticipated right-of-way for the new transmission line would be 75 feet. The Project is located entirely within the city of Orono in Hennepin County. The Project will cost approximately $5.3 million dollars. Review Process. In Minnesota, no person may construct a high-voltage transmission line without a route permit from the Commission (Minnesota Statute 216E.03 subdivision 2). A high-voltage transmission line is defined as a conductor of electric energy designed for and capable of operation at a voltage of 100 kV or more and is greater than 1,500 feet in length (Minnesota Statute 216E.01, subdivision 4). The project as proposed would consist of approximately 4.7 miles of new 115 kV transmission line and would therefore require a route permit from the Commission. Because the proposed transmission line capacity is under 200 kV, less than ten miles in length, and does not cross a state border, a certificate of need is not required (Minnesota Statute 216B.2421, subdivision 2). A route permit application for the project was filed under the alternative permitting process by Xcel Energy on June 7, 2011. The project is eligible for consideration under the alternative permitting process, as the transmission line voltage would be between 100 and 200 kilovolts (Minnesota Rules 7850.2800, subpart 2B). The application was accepted as complete by the Commission on June 30, 2011. The Commission has six months from the time the application is accepted to complete the alternative permitting process and make a decision on a route permit. Route permit applications for high-voltage transmission lines are subject to environmental review (Minnesota Rules 7850). For this project, EFP staff will prepare an environmental assessment. The environmental assessment contains information on the potential human and environmental effects of PUC Dockets TL-11-223 Page 2 of 4