BLUE EARTH– The Faribault County Board of Commissioners, at their meeting on Tuesday, learned that a joint utility effort between several regional utilities is working to build a proposed 765 kV transmission line from the South Dakota/Minnesota border across the southern tier of Minnesota counties to substations located in eastern Minnesota.

“The proposed transmission line would most likely run across the northern part of Faribault County,” Lori Buffington of Great River Energy, said.

Great River Energy, ITC, Otter Tail Power Company and Xcel Energy are the four companies involved in the project that is named PowerOn Midwest. Representatives also presented to the Martin County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday as their county is also affected.

“Electricity use is growing throughout the Upper Midwest and demand is expected to increase significantly over the next two decades,” Buffington commented. “The increase in electric use, combined with the changing ways electricity is generated, requires new long-term solutions to meet the needs of our communities, states and region to ensure we can continue delivering the reliable service people need to power their daily lives.”

According to Buffington, there are many benefits to the proposed line.

“Continued electric reliability and consistent power delivery in any season, under any conditions, are some of the benefits of the project,” ITC Midwest representative Rod Pritchard said. “The transmission line will also allow access to cost-effective generation such as wind and solar energy. It is also a grid that will enable and support new technologies that reduce emissions.”

Pritchard explained that the 765 kV transmission line was identified as the preferred choice for PowerOn Midwest.

“A single 765 kV line can carry as much power as six single-circuit 345 kV lines or three double-circuit 345 kV lines,” Pritchard explained. “This results in fewer towers per mile and fewer transmission lines needed to carry the same amount of power.”

The actual construction of the line would take place between 2030 and 2034.

An open house to learn more about the proposed project will be held in Faribault County at the Nasinec Event Center in Wells on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Additional information may also be found at PowerOnMidwest.com

The County Board also:

— Approved a gambling permit for Minn-Iowa Golf Club/Elmore Legion for a raffle on Nov. 29.

— Voted to approve the requests of Jackie Frederickson and Denise Eisenmenger of the Sheriff’s Department to attend public safety training courses.

— Approved the training request of Mitch Murphy of the Sheriff’s Department to attend a taser recertification instructor course.