LETTER TO BRIAN SULLIVAN AND ELIZABETH HANSON
P HONE 651-296-0406 • T OLL F REE 1 -800-657-3782 • F AX 651-297-7073
121 7 TH P LACE E AST • S UITE 350 • S AINT P AUL, M INNESOTA 55101-2147
MN.GOV/PUC
February 7, 2018
Brian Sullivan
Xcel Energy
414 Nicollet Mall, 414-06
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Elizabeth Hanson
City of Chaska
One City Hall Plaza
Chaska, MN 55318
RE: Local Review of Xcel Energy’s Chanhassen to Chaska 115 kV Transmission Line Project in
Carver County, Minnesota, Docket No. E002/LR-18-90
Dear Mr. Sullivan and Ms. Hanson:
This letter confirms that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) has received
Xcel Energy’s letter dated January 29, 2018, indicating that it has elected to pursue local review
approval to construct approximately 1.5 miles of new 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line from
an existing Xcel transmission line at County Road 18 and County Road 15 in the city of
Chanhassen to a new substation (Hazeltine Substation) in the city of Chaska.
Under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 216E, a route permit from the Commission is required for
most high-voltage transmission lines that are greater than 100 kV. However, certain projects
may be eligible for review and permitting by local units of government with jurisdiction instead
of filing with the Commission. In this case, the Chanhassen to Chaska 115 kV Transmission Line
Project proposed by Xcel Energy is eligible for local review under Minn. Stat. § 216E.05, subd.
2(3).
Xcel Energy indicated that the city of Chaska is the local government unit (LGU) with jurisdiction
to permit the proposed project. Under Minn. Stat. § 216E.05, subd. 1(b), a local unit of
government may relinquish its jurisdiction by requesting the Commission assume jurisdiction
and make a decision on the permit. The request must be filed with the Commission within 60
days after an application for a project has been filed with the LGU. Xcel Energy indicated that it
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filed a conditional use permit with the city of Chaska on January 17, 2018, and that the city has
confirmed it will assume jurisdiction over the permitting of the proposed project.
Under Minn. R. 7850.5300, subp. 5, an environmental assessment must be prepared by the LGU
with jurisdiction over the project. Specific requirements with regard to the environmental
review process include providing an opportunity for the public to participate in the
development of the scope of the environmental assessment before it is prepared; publishing
notice in the EQB Monitor of when the assessment is available for review and of the procedure
for commenting on the assessment; and withholding a final decision on the project until at least
10 days after the notice appears in the EQB Monitor. A copy of the environmental assessment
and other relevant documents must be provided to the Commission upon completion. The
environmental assessment and other required documents must be filed using the Commission’s
electronic filing system (https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling).
This letter acknowledges that Xcel Energy has provided notice to the Commission and to those
persons on the Commission’s General Notification List that a permit has been applied for from
the local unit of government as required by Minn. R. 7850.5300, subp. 3.
If you have any questions, please direct them to Scott Ek of the Commission staff at 651-201-
2255 or scott.ek@state.mn.us.
Sincerely,
Daniel P. Wolf
Executive Secretary