Northwest Maple Grove

Project Overview

The area around Twin Cities’ northwest suburb Maple Grove is experiencing significant increase in electric use due to the growth of new homes, businesses and neighborhoods, and we expect this growth to continue in the coming years. This important electric transmission project will provide significant benefits to customers throughout the area and support residential, commercial and industrial development in the community.

Project Resources

Project Information Sheet (April 2026) (Opens in a new window) Project Information Sheet (June 2025) (Opens in a new window) Route Permit Application (Opens in a new window) Safety Around Power Lines (Opens in a new window) Birds and Power Lines (Opens in a new window) Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) (Opens in a new window) Transmission Construction (Opens in a new window) Overhead vs. Underground (Opens in a new window)

Project Updates

March 2026

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) is holding public meetings to provide opportunities for public comment period before a final route determination is made. In-person and online public meetings are scheduled for April 14, 2026 and April 15, 2026.

IN-PERSON MEETING

Date: April 14, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Open House) 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Public Meeting)
Location: Maple Grove Community Center 12951 Weaver Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55369
Due to construction, parking in the North Lot closest to the entrance is not available. Please note that all attendees must enter through the hockey arena and proceed inside to access the community center. Clear signage will be in place to help guide you to the event location.

ONLINE MEETING

Date: April 15, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Join by WebEx (Webinar) Link: https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/ j.php?MTID=mf88a367b7f17c96482c19e863aae54a8
Webinar Number: 2496 657 6361
Webinar Password: MnPUC! (667820 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join by Phone: 1-855-282-6330 Toll Free
Access Code: 2496 657 6361

February 2026

Following extensive public outreach and regulatory review, Xcel Energy filed a Route Permit application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) in November 2025. In February 2026, the MPUC found the application complete and advanced the Route Permit application in the regulatory process. The MPUC will now begin its formal review, including opportunities for public comment period before a final route determination is made. Public meetings will be scheduled for April 2026.

Spring 2025

Xcel Energy has begun working with the City of Maple Grove, local landowners, and other key stakeholders to discuss land use issues. Xcel Energy hosted an in-person public meeting on April 22, 2025 at the Maple Grove Community Center. Landowners and community members can still provide comments in the contact form below.

Xcel Energy expects to file a Route Permit Application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in 2025.

Project Details

To continue delivering reliable electricity and accommodate the community’s growth, Xcel Energy is proposing the construction of a 115/34.5 kV substation on the west side of Interstate 94 and a two-mile 115kV transmission line connecting a new substation to an existing transmission line west of the Elm Creek substation.

Proposed Route

The proposed route is from the new West Maple Grove substation to the existing 115kV line west of the Elm Creek substation. It is aligned along the west side of Interstate 94 to avoid some sensitive areas and mainly follows existing roadways. The route is approximately 2.0 miles and roughly follows 105^th Ave North.

Existing Conditions

Proposed Conditions

Typical Structures

Project Timeline

File a Route Permit application with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and begin working with local governments and landowners around the same timeframe: November 2025
Commission review. 12-18 months to review and evaluate route options included in the Route Permit application: Decision expected 2026
Construction is slated to begin : Late 2026
Target completion date for construction: Late 2027