News of the week

November 6, 2024

A new interactive map helps Minnesota residents explore their home's status regarding lead service lines

Community water service teams have been busy across the state assessing lead service lines in their communities. Now that the information has been reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, an online tool to help Minnesotans see if they have a lead service line at home is now available.

According to MDH, 99.9 percent of the inventories across the state have been reported and logged. The work is part of a goal to eliminate all lead service lines in the state by 2033.

Learn more here and view the interactive tool here.

Provide your feedback on the Xcel power line from southwest to central Minnesota

Xcel Energy seeks input on the Minnesota Energy Connection, a proposed 170-mile power line running from Lyon County in southwest Minnesota to Sherburne County in central Minnesota. The line will provide renewable energy to a substation near the closing Sherco coal-fired power plant near Becker.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is accepting comments on the project until November 25. The Commission is expected to decide in March 2025 whether they will approve a certificate of need and route for the project.

Public hearings on the project are scheduled for today, Wednesday, November 6, in Granite Falls and Olivia and tomorrow, Thursday, November 7, in Marshall and Redwood Falls. 

To read more, click here. To get more information on the public meetings, click here.

200-megawatt solar project proposed for Renville County

On October 29, a Chicago-based renewable energy development company announced its plans to build a 200-megawatt solar energy farm called the Gopher State Solar Project about three miles north of Bird Island.

The 977-acre project is estimated to be a $200 million investment in the county. Once it is operational, the farm will create three to five permanent employee positions. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commision will likely decide on a permit for the project by July 2025. To learn more, click here.

New Ulm lineworkers enjoy local coverage after joining MMUA-led mutual aid trip to Florida

New Ulm Public Utilities employees Brandon Devorak, James Henderson, and Joe Weber talked to the New Ulm Journal about their mutual aid work in Florida when they were among the 38 Minnesotans who responded to the call. The lineworkers worked 16-hour shifts to restore power in Orlando, Florida, after being redirected from Kissimmee, Florida.

Much of the Minnesota crew's work focused on repairing overhead lines, replacing burnt-out fuses, and restoring power lines. They noted that Florida's electrical infrastructure is slightly different from Minnesota's, making the work more challenging. They arrived in Florida on October 9 and left on October 13.

The New Ulm coverage is just one example of wide media coverage our crews enjoyed as they helped Florida recover from one of the worst hurricanes in recent years. To read more, click here.

Xcel Energy to increase capital spending on infrastructure by $11 billion over original plans

Xcel Energy announced on October 31 that it plans to increase its spending on infrastructure by $11 billion over the next five years to address pressing industry needs including the transition to clean energy and climate change. Xcel's spending in this area will jump from its initial plan of $34 billion to $45 billion from 2025 to 2030.

Xcel also said it would file a new rate case on November 1 with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, requesting a 9.6 percent increase in 2025 and a 3.6 percent increase in 2026. 

Willmar's General Manager search continues

Sun Prairie Utilities General Manager Rick Wicklund has rejected an offer to become General Manager at Willmar Municipal Utilities.

Wicklund noted that he could not accept the offer because he did not want to move to Willmar from Wisconsin.

Wicklund was the second candidate chosen, the first being Joel Lemke of Stevens Point. Willmar Municipal Utilities retracted their offer to Lemke after he said that he would like to stay in Wisconsin for two years as well.

The process will now move to the reconsideration of the candidates from within Willmar Municipal Utilities. The utility plans to recommend one of the internal candidates at the next meeting of the Willmar Utilities Commission on November 12. The two internal candidates involved in the process are Willmar Municipal Utilities Administrator and Interim General Manager Janelle Johnson and utilities engineer Jeron Smith.

Learn more here and here.

Early bird registration rate ends this Friday!

Funding opportunities

PFAS source identification and reduction grant program

A new Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) grant is providing funding for activities related to planning, development and implementation of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) source identification and reduction plans, product substitutions and system improvements. Municipalities are eligible for this grant opportunity.

Approximately $2 million in funding is available, with a maximum award of up to $125,000 per applicant/organization, depending on PFAS monitoring status and environmental justice benefits. A match of ten percent of the grant amount is required.

To learn more, click here.

Drinking water planning and design funds for PFAS treatment

Another MPCA grant is aimed at providing funding for planning and design of PFAS treatment systems for owners and operators of community drinking water supply systems in Minnesota.

A total of$22 million in funding is available. Applicants must have a minimum of four quarters of samples taken from entry points using applicable EPA methods and a rolling average that exceeds the EPA final maximum contaminant level (MCL) values for several PFAS types.

To learn more, click here.

Looking ahead

Save the date:

2025 Legislative Conference

January 28–29, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Saint Paul Downtown

MMUA’s Legislative Conference is one of the municipal utility community’s primary opportunities to inform and influence state lawmakers. This year’s event will occur near the start of the session. This is prime time for getting ahead of the push for final committee action and to lobby for a bonding bill adequate to meet utility infrastructure needs.

The conference will include engaging presentations from a diverse array of industry and legal experts. Topics will cover a variety of local government issues, MMUA’s administrative and legislative priorities, and more.

On Tuesday afternoon, attendees will head to the Hill to meet with their representatives. The MMUA Government Relations team encourages you to start making appointments now to meet with your local Senators and House members. We will cap off the day with a legislative reception at the DoubleTree, providing MMUA members the opportunity for further conversation with lawmakers.

Registration will open in late November 2024. Check the event page on MMUA's website for additional details.

As always, thank you for your association with MMUA and your commitment to delivering excellent service through locally owned utility assets in your community. Have a great week!

Jennifer Williams

Director of Marketing and Member Relations

Direct: 763-746-0727 / Cell: 651-202-0997

jwilliams@mmua.org | www.mmua.org

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