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PowerOn Midwest

PowerOn Midwest

Pleasant Valley-North Rochester-Hampton 345 kV

Overview

Xcel Energy, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency, and the City of Rochester have partnered to construct, own, and maintain the proposed North Rochester to Hampton 345 kV project, which would add a second circuit to the existing Hampton-Rochester transmission line built as part of the CapX2020 project. This project is a part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's (MISO) Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) Tranche 2.1 portfolio, a regional effort to modernize the electric grid and meet growing energy needs.

Key milestones

PowerOn Midwest must undergo a comprehensive state regulatory review led by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC), this includes two key approvals:

  • Certificate of Need (CON) - filed February 3, 2026
  • Route Permit application - anticipated to be filed in 2027

More information will be shared on this page as the project develops.

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Upcoming events

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold public information and environmental report scoping meetings in April 2026 on the Certificate of Need Application for the project. Visit the Events page to learn more.