Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
2024 Minnesota Statutes
216I.11 PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS; EXCEPTIONS FOR CERTAIN FACILITIES.
Subdivision 1.Permit not required.
The following projects do not constitute the construction of a large energy infrastructure facility and may be constructed without a permit issued by the commission:
(1) maintaining or repairing an existing large energy infrastructure facility within an existing site or right-of-way;
(2) adding equipment at an existing substation that does not (i) require more than a one-acre expansion of the land needed for the substation, and (ii) involve an increase in the voltage or changes in the location of existing transmission lines, except that up to the first five transmission line structures outside the substation may be moved to accommodate the equipment additions, provided the structures are not moved more than 500 feet from the existing right-of-way;
(3) reconductoring or reconstructing a high-voltage transmission line that does not result in a change to voltage or a change in right-of-way;
(4) relocating a high-voltage transmission line that is required by a local or state agency as part of road, street, or highway construction;
(5) converting the fuel source of a large electric power generating plant to natural gas, provided the plant is not expanded beyond the developed portion of the plant site; and
(6) starting up an existing large electric power generating plant that has been closed for any period of time at no more than the large electric power generating plant's previous capacity rating and in a manner that does not involve changing the fuel or expanding the developed portion of the plant site.
Subd. 2.Amendment.
If a modification or other change to an existing large energy infrastructure facility does not qualify for an exception under subdivision 1, the modification or change may qualify as an amendment under section 216I.09.
Subd. 3.Notice.
A person that proposes to implement changes to a large energy infrastructure facility under subdivision 1, clauses (2) to (5), must notify the commission in writing at least 30 days before commencing construction of the modification or change.
History:
NOTE: This chapter, as added by Laws 2024, chapter 126, articles 7 and 9, and Laws 2024, chapter 127, articles 43 and 45, is effective July 1, 2025. Laws 2024, chapter 126, article 7, section 16; and Laws 2024, chapter 127, article 43, section 16.
Before July 1, 2025, see also 2022 Minnesota Statutes and 2023 Minnesota Statutes Supplement, chapters 216E and 216F, as applicable.
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes