First structures set for Northland Reliability Project

The first structures have been set for the Northland Reliability Project, a major transmission line being constructed by Great River Energy and Minnesota Power.

The Northland Reliability Project is a double-circuit, 345-kilovolt transmission line that will span approximately 180 miles from central Minnesota near Becker to northern Minnesota near Grand Rapids to support grid reliability in the Upper Midwest.

A major milestone was reached when the first transmission structure was successfully set on July 17 near St. Cloud. Meeting this milestone involved years of specialized engineering and design efforts, engagement with the public - including agencies and landowners, and a carefully orchestrated material and construction plan.

"It's an exciting moment because it's the first visible sign of the transmission lines taking shape and a reminder of how much has gone into getting us to this point," said Great River Energy Regional Transmission Project Manager Meredith Lieske.

The first structure also required a Federal Aviation Administration-mandated aviation warning light due to its proximity to the St. Cloud Sky Central Airport. Meeting those requirements involved considerable coordination by the project team and contractors. In a single week, four different contractors and Great River Energy crews worked in sequence on the structure to complete the necessary installations and successfully energize the light.

Crews are installing foundations, assembling and setting structures, delivering materials, and advancing constructions across multiple work fronts between Becker and Saint Cloud, and at the Cherry Park, Cuyuna, Iron Range and Riverton substations.

"This progress is only possible because of the tremendous teamwork between Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, our contractors, landowners and many other partners who have helped move this project from planning into construction," Lieske said.

The Northland Reliability Project will help maintain a reliable and resilient local and regional power grid as more renewable energy is brought online; existing power plants are retired; more homes and businesses shift to electricity to power appliances, equipment and heating and cooling systems; and more frequent extreme weather events occur. The project is expected to be in service by 2030.