As wind and solar energy increasingly are integrated into the electric grid, the rights of public utilities to build transmission lines carrying 100 kilovolts will be more clearly defined.
A new law, signed April 18 by Gov. Mark Dayton, establishes the right of first refusal for Minnesota utilities for transmission lines connecting to their facilities. It takes effect Aug. 1, 2012.
State action was needed after the July 2011 transfer of regional high-voltage transmission lines to individual states by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The law does not limit the rights of transmission lines carrying less than 100 kilovolts. Those lower voltage transmission lines commonly are from wind and solar energy installations.
In addition to transferring transmission oversight to states, the law requires transmission owners to give the Public Utilities Commission 90-days notice on whether they intend to build a transmission line and 18 months to file a certificate of need for the line.
If the commission does not receive notice, it may determine whether the existing utility or another entity should build the transmission line.
Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar) and Sen. David Brown (R-Becker) sponsor the law.
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