MARSHALL — A high-voltage power line project that would run from Sherburne County to Lyon County got approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission this week.

On Thursday, the PUC approved a certificate of need and a route permit for the Minnesota Energy Connection Project. The Xcel Energy project would build a 345-kilovolt transmission line running from Becker to a planned new substation near Garvin.

The planned transmission line will be approximately 174 miles long, the PUC said in a news release.

Two route proposals were included in Xcel Energy’s permit application. One proposed route went into Lyon County from the north, and passed near the cities of Cottonwood and Marshall. The other proposed route went through through Redwood County and into Lyon County from the east. The PUC approved that second route.

The approved route passes between the city of Franklin and the Lower Sioux Indian Community and then heads west, passing south of the cities of Redwood Falls and Lucan. After entering Lyon County, the route passes along the east side of Amiret, and ends with a planned new substation that would be located near Garvin.

At a public meeting in Marshall last year, Xcel spokespeople said the project would make it possible to connect with sources of renewable energy in southwest Minnesota. The project came as Xcel Energy was preparing to shut down the coal-fired Sherco power plant in Sherburne County.

In a Friday news release, the Minnesota PUC said the project would also reuse about 2,000 megawatts of transmission interconnection rights at the Serco substation in Sherburne County.

The PUC made its decision on the project after a public review and engagement process. The process collected feedback from stakeholders including area landowners, local governments tribal representatives, and more.

“Public input is fundamental to our process,” PUC Commissioner John Tuma said in a news release. “The diverse perspectives shared throughout the review helped shape the outcome and ensure that the project aligns with the state’s environmental and community priorities.”

Xcel spokesperson Randy Fordice said construction plans for the project are being finalized. Construction of the transmission line is scheduled to begin in early 2026.

An updated map of the project route is available at www.MNEnergyConnection.com.