The Murray County Commissioners adopted a resolution on September 1 that opposes the proposed 765 kV PowerOn Midwest transmission project Certificate of Need application, which is currently under review by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).
On a 4-1 vote, the resolution was approved that states the county formally opposes the proposed routing of the lines through Murray County “unless and until it is conclusively demonstrated” through the MPUC process that 1. the project is the least impactful alternative and proven to provide residents with direct benefits, 2. no reasonable lower-voltage or non-wire alternatives exist, 3. the project fully complies with the county’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan and 4. local environmental, agricultural and socioeconomic impacts are minimized to the maximum extent practicable.
The resolution lists out formal requests of information and documentation, including early access to the route permit application, local review of a full environmental impact statement and documentation of no negative human health impacts.
The 4-page resolution will be sent to the MPUC, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, MISO and the Governor of Minnesota.
Randy Fordice, Manager of Transmission Communication and Public Affairs for Xcel Energy, was on hand to answer questions from commissioners and respond to some of the items mentioned in the resolution.
Fordice said the route permit application is currently being written and they are expecting to file it with the MPUC in February 2027. He stated the company is committed to working with landowners and has held 3 rounds of open houses so people could learn more. When the permit is filed, he said, there will be an additional opportunity for people to suggest route options specific to Murray County.
“Lower voltage feeds your community,” Fordice said of Murray County. “And it is being imported about 15 percent of the time.”
Although no open meeting had been called, members of the public were allowed to speak during the meeting, questioning Fordice about the need for the project, cost, routing, economic impacts and more.
After being told by one member in the audience that Murray County does not need the electricity, Fordice said the Certificate of Need application was to determine need, adding that electric usage is going up nationwide.
Commissioner Chair Mark Carlson mentioned on several occasions during the meeting that Murray County has no say in what the MPUC decides about the Certificate of Need or the Route Permit application.
Molly Malone, a former commissioner who works in the energy field, stated that unlike others in the room, she is in favor of the transmission project. With wind and solar power being generated in Murray County, Malone said the generated electricity should be considered an export that needs the transmission line to move it out of the area. Moving that power could bring in a million dollars or more in wind tax, she said.
Commissioner Loy Woelber, the lone dissenting vote on the resolution, said the nay vote was because he was not a fan of stating the county was opposed to the project. He would have preferred expressing Murray County concerns to the MPUC without the opposition.
During a public hearing on Tuesday, the Murray County Commissioners approved a resolution to pursue $700,000 in general obligation bonds for a Capital improvement Plan at Murray County Medical Center. The funds will be used to replace the 25-year-old X-ray machine and renovate the area in which it is housed.
MCMC CEO Luke Schryvers gave his monthly report, in which he said a new ambulance has been purchased.
Conditional Use Permits were approved for Jonathan Groen and Michael Erbes for ag service businesses and for Xcel Energy for a substation. Also approved was the final plat for Anderson Acres – 9 backlots of Lake Sarah.
Commissioners approved advertising for a Highway Maintenance Supervisor and forming a Road and Bridges Committee but declined to form a Correctional Facility Feasibility Assessment Committee, instead referring the subject to the Building Committee.
A request from Murray County Soil & Water for a plot of land was approved. Commissioners said that the requested piece of land by the Recycling Center with frontage road access seemed like a good fit for the endeavor of a new building for the organization.
Emergency Management Director Carl Nyquist was given approval to apply for a 50/50 matching grant that would pay for courthouse security upgrades.
