Meeting About Power Line Project in Plymouth

The proposed Hollydale project, which upgrades power lines and adds a new substation over an eight-mile stretch from Medina to Plymouth, has generated plenty of buzz in the community.

According to the Xcel Energy website, the project includes rebuilding about eight miles of existing 69 kilovolt (kV) transmission line to 115kV, constructing almost a mile of new 115 kV transmission line and building a new 115 kV substation, which is called the Pomerleau Lake Substation.

Great River Energy would modify its Medina Substation for the Hollydale project.

The energy companies say the project is needed to address electric distribution concerns and to avoid feeder circuit overloads in the Plymouth area distribution delivery system. The project will provide increased distribution capacity in the Plymouth-Medina area.

The proposal requires a Route Permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Xcel Energy and Great River Energy jointly filed a Route Permit Application with the Commission on June 30, 2011, for the kV transmission improvements and new Pomerleau Lake Substation.

There have been several other public meetings in 2010 and 2011 including the public meeting Jan. 25 at .

Residents of the area have voiced their concerns about the project, which range from property value disruption to aesthetics of the new power lines and substation to environmental effects of the power lines so close to homes.

Mayor Kelli Slavik has said the City Council does not have any chance to approve the project as it won't be coming before them. The council has discussed the project at meetings and how they have heard from concerned residents on it.

There are previous public comments on record that can be viewed on the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Edockets. Put in "Hollydale Project" as a search term to find results of past public meeting comments and further information on the project.