News > Beyond the Plug: Regional Transmission

Beyond the Plug: Regional Transmission

October 11, 2024

Regional transmission lines transport bulk electricity across the region at high voltages.

Great River Energy, a not-for-profit wholesale electric power cooperative serving 27 member-owner distribution cooperatives — including Stearns Electric Association — is the owner or partial owner of several regional transmission lines that help ensure continued reliable electricity around the Upper Midwest.

Regional transmission lines are usually supported on tall metal or wood towers and transport power long distances at voltages of 230 kilovolts (kV), 345 kV and higher. Great River Energy owns and operates more than 700 miles of transmission lines at these voltages, which help carry electricity from where it’s made to where it’s needed.

The region’s grid operator, MISO, is working with Great River Energy and many other utilities in the region to plan for a series of transmission upgrades that will support continued reliable electric service as the power supply continues to evolve from primarily fossil fuels to more renewable energy like wind.

One of these projects is the Northland Reliability Project, which Great River Energy is co-developing with Minnesota Power. This 345-kV transmission line will span 180 miles from Grand Rapids to Becker. It is being developed with two significant technology additions: more resilient structures to better withstand wind as well as “twisted pair” conductors, which are more resilient to ice buildup from winter weather.

Regional transmission is key to helping deliver reliable energy across the Midwest every day. New regional transmission projects, like the Northland Reliability Project, will allow the power that comes to Stearns Electric and is passed on to our members to be cleaner and more reliable than ever before. There is a critical need for more regional transmission lines in the Upper Midwest and more are expected to begin development in the coming years.