ERMUSR MISC 08-14-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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General CapX 2020 information • CapX 2020 is a joint initiative of 11 transmission-owning utilities in Minnesota and the surrounding region to expand the electric transmission grid to ensure continued reliable service to 2020 and beyond. • The CapX 2020 projects were designed to address three categories of need: 1. Community service reliability: Each of the proposed lines addresses specific system reliability needs for the communities served. 2. Renewables generation support: The proposed lines will help Minnesota meet the standard requiring 25 percent of the state's electricity by 2025 to come from renewable sources. Wind generation and development continues to outstrip available generation and transmission capacity. 3. System-wide need: The high voltage electrical system must be upgraded and expanded to meet load-serving needs estimated for the next several decades. • The first group of CapX 2020 projects is made up of three proposed 345-kilovolt transmission line projects, one 230-kV line and associated substations. Group 1 proposed projects cover approximately 700 miles and include: - A 230-mile, 345-kV transmission line between the Brookings, SD, area and the Southeast Twin Cities, including a 345-kV transmission line from Marshall to the Granite Falls area - A 250-mile, 345-kV transmission line between Fargo and the Monticello area - A 150-mile, 345-kV transmission line between the Southeast Twin Cities and Rochester continuing to La Crosse, WI - A 68-mile, 230-kV transmission line between Bemidji and Grand Rapids in North Central Minnesota • The CapX 2020 proposals represent the largest transmission initiative in Minnesota in the past three decades. CapX 2020 is set apart from other transmission projects by its long- term vision for ensuring a steady supply of reliable electricity for decades to come. While utilities in the region have a history of coordinating activities, this effort is unique in that it's an alliance of municipals, co-ops and investor-owned utilities. It also involved action by the Minnesota Legislature to streamline cost recovery and the permitting process.