Five utilities propose I-94 second-circuit power upgrade through Otter Tail County

Five Upper Midwest energy providers have filed a joint proposal to add a second circuit to the existing transmission line along Interstate 94 between Fargo, North Dakota, and Alexandria, Minnesota, a route that crosses Otter Tail County. The partners — Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, Missouri River Energy Services, Otter Tail Power and Xcel Energy — submitted a Certificate of Need application on Jan. 18, 2026, saying the upgrade is needed to meet growing demand, strengthen grid reliability and allow better access to lower-cost power across the region.

Project engineers plan to build the new circuit within the current right-of-way for the line. Company filings indicate the work could require up to about 100 new structures along the corridor. Proponents stress that keeping construction inside the existing corridor should limit new land acquisition, though residents and county officials can expect visible changes to the landscape where new poles or lattice towers are placed.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will review the Certificate of Need application in the months ahead. That review will include environmental study and opportunities for public comment as part of the PUC process. If the application is approved and permits are secured, proponents say planning and permitting will extend over several years, with potential construction beginning in 2028 and the upgraded circuit placed in service around 2032.

For Otter Tail County residents the proposal carries practical consequences. Proponents argue the additional circuit would bolster reliability during extreme weather events, which have become more frequent and disruptive to farms, lake homes and small businesses in the lakes country. Increased transmission capacity can reduce strain on older lines, lower the risk of outages and improve the county’s attractiveness to manufacturers or employers that prioritize dependable, cost-competitive electricity.

There are local trade-offs to weigh. Construction activity along the I-94 corridor could bring temporary traffic and noise impacts, and new transmission structures will alter scenic views in some stretches. The fact that the upgrade would stay inside existing transmission right-of-way reduces the scope of new land use, but environmental review during the PUC process will examine impacts more closely and offer formal channels for residents to raise concerns.

Next steps for the community include watching the PUC docket for public hearings and environmental filings and participating in comment periods when they are announced. If approved, the multi-year timeline means any economic or reliability benefits will arrive gradually, but proponents say the project would be a long-term investment in keeping the lights on across Otter Tail County and the broader I-94 corridor.