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Xcel Energy® 414 Nicollet Mall RESPONSIBLE BY NATURE" Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-1993 March 22, 2013 VIA ELECTRONIC FILING Dr. Burl W. Haar Executive Secretary Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Metro Square Building q 121 Seventh Place East St. Paul, MN 55101 Re: Route Alignment Information Orono Substation Replacement and New 115 kV Transmission Line Project Docket No. E002/TL-11-223 Dear Dr. Haar: Northern States Power Company (Xcel Energy), a Minnesota corporation, obtained a Route Permit (dated April 6, 2012) to construct approximately 0.4 miles of new double circuit 115 kV p pp Y overhead electric transmission line, relocate approximately 0.2 miles of Xcel Energy's existing 115 kV transmission line 0831, and replace Xcel Energy's existing Orono Substation in the City of Orono, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Commerce, Energy Facility Permitting Staff has requested additional information regarding the minor alignment change to two structures that was included in the Plan and Profile drawings submitted on January 18, 2013. This letter addresses that change. The route alignment included in the Plan and Profile was adjusted slightly from the preliminary alignment shown in the Route Permit. This change was done to comply with Section 4.2.8 of Route Permit which states that structures should be located to span watercourses, wetlands and floodplains to the extent practicable. The adjustment included in the Plan and Profile involved eliminating the structure originally labeled 076-4 (new) in the attached map, which was located within the wetland, and shifting structure 076-5 to the southwest. Both of these structures are located entirely on Xcel Energy owned property north of the Orono Substation and within the permitted route width. Consistent with Section 3.1 of the Route Permit, this alignment modification reduces impacts compared to the preliminary design relative to the factors outlined in Minnesota Rule 7850.4100. Specifically, the modified alignment reduces impacts in the following ways: • Reduces overall impacts by eliminating one structure. Specifically, this change eliminates one foundation and structure from the wetland;