Letter: Let Your Voice Be Heard on Proposed Xcel Energy Transmission Line Upgrade

Editor's note: the following was posted on Lake Minnetonka Patch's Facebook page by Marta Wudlick Snow.

A note to fellow Lake Minnetonka Area residents, whom I know value the Three Rivers Park District Bike and Walking Trail that runs through Shorewood, Excelsior, Greenwood, Deephaven and Minnetonka:

Xcel Energy has been pursing action to upgrade the current 69kV line with a 115kV line along the trail between downtown Excelsior and Deephaven substations, which would require the use of taller poles (from my understanding, those massive steel poles). Fortunately, there is a secondary proposal to route the upgrade along Hwy. 5, using existing structures, where there is increasing demand for wattage as compared to diminishing demand in our area.

See http://mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/Docket.html?Id=32547 for official info.

So, let your voice be heard!

The Public Utilities Commission will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, May 16, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. at the Chanhassen Rec Center (Hwy. 5 and Galpin Boulevard). 

Concerned citizens are encouraged to attend this public hearing. Written comments (discussion open until the end of May) should be sent to: 

The Honorable Ann C. O'Reilly 
Office of Administrative Hearings 
Email: RouteComments.OAH@state.mn.us 
Fax: 651.361.7936 
PO Box 64620 
600 North Robert Street 
St. Paul, MN 55164-0620 

Make sure to reference PUC Docket Numbers E002/CN-1132 and E02/TL-11-948 and OAH Docket Number 16-2500-22873 

Thank You!

Marta Wudlick Snow