Bill Text: MN SF674 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: High-voltage transmission lines routing regulations for adjoining real property
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-13 - Second reading [SF674 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF674-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to energy; regulating the routing of high-voltage transmission lines;
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 216E.03, subdivision 7; 216E.12,
1.4by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216E.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 7. Considerations in designating sites and routes. (a) The commission's
1.8site and route permit determinations must be guided by the state's goals to conserve
1.9resources, minimize environmental impacts, minimize human settlement and other land
1.10use conflicts, and ensure the state's electric energy security through efficient, cost-effective
1.11power supply and electric transmission infrastructure.
1.12 (b) To facilitate the study, research, evaluation, and designation of sites and routes,
1.13the commission shall be guided by, but not limited to, the following considerations:
1.14(1) evaluation of research and investigations relating to the effects on land, water
1.15and air resources of large electric power generating plants and high-voltage transmission
1.16lines and the effects of water and air discharges and electric and magnetic fields resulting
1.17from such facilities on public health and welfare, vegetation, animals, materials and
1.18aesthetic values, including baseline studies, predictive modeling, and evaluation of new or
1.19improved methods for minimizing adverse impacts of water and air discharges and other
1.20matters pertaining to the effects of power plants on the water and air environment;
1.21(2) environmental evaluation of sites and routes proposed for future development and
1.22expansion and their relationship to the land, water, air and human resources of the state;
2.1(3) evaluation of the effects of new electric power generation and transmission
2.2technologies and systems related to power plants designed to minimize adverse
2.3environmental effects;
2.4(4) evaluation of the potential for beneficial uses of waste energy from proposed
2.5large electric power generating plants;
2.6(5) analysis of the direct and indirect economic impact of proposed sites and routes
2.7including, but not limited to, productive agricultural land lost or impaired and reduction in
2.8value of land adjoining and in proximity to a route;
2.9(6) evaluation of adverse direct and indirect environmental effects that cannot be
2.10avoided should the proposed site and route be accepted;
2.11(7) evaluation of alternatives to the applicant's proposed site or route proposed
2.12pursuant to subdivisions 1 and 2;
2.13(8) evaluation of potential routes that would use or parallel existing railroad and
2.14highway rights-of-way;
2.15(9) evaluation of governmental survey lines and other natural division lines of
2.16agricultural land so as to minimize interference with agricultural operations;
2.17(10) evaluation of the future needs for additional high-voltage transmission lines
2.18in the same general area as any proposed route, and the advisability of ordering the
2.19construction of structures capable of expansion in transmission capacity through multiple
2.20circuiting or design modifications;
2.21(11) evaluation of irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources should the
2.22proposed site or route be approved; and
2.23(12) when appropriate, consideration of problems raised by other state and federal
2.24agenciesand, local entities, and affected landowners.
2.25(c) If the commission's rules are substantially similar to existing regulations of a
2.26federal agency to which the utility in the state is subject, the federal regulations must
2.27be applied by the commission.
2.28(d) No site or route shall be designated which violates state agency rules.
2.29(e) The commission must make specific findings that it has considered locating a
2.30route for a high-voltage transmission line on an existing high-voltage transmission route
2.31and the use of parallel existing highway right-of-way and, to the extent those are not used
2.32for the route, the commission must state the reasons.
2.33 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216E.12, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.34to read:
3.1 Subd. 4a. Adjoining real property. An owner of real property that is not included
3.2in a route but which is in proximity to the route has the right to compensation from the
3.3utility for diminution in the value of the property caused by the construction of the line,
3.4if the owner's property is diminished in value by 50 percent or more because of the
3.5construction of a high-voltage transmission line in the route.
1.3amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 216E.03, subdivision 7; 216E.12,
1.4by adding a subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216E.03, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
1.7 Subd. 7. Considerations in designating sites and routes. (a) The commission's
1.8site and route permit determinations must be guided by the state's goals to conserve
1.9resources, minimize environmental impacts, minimize human settlement and other land
1.10use conflicts, and ensure the state's electric energy security through efficient, cost-effective
1.11power supply and electric transmission infrastructure.
1.12 (b) To facilitate the study, research, evaluation, and designation of sites and routes,
1.13the commission shall be guided by, but not limited to, the following considerations:
1.14(1) evaluation of research and investigations relating to the effects on land, water
1.15and air resources of large electric power generating plants and high-voltage transmission
1.16lines and the effects of water and air discharges and electric and magnetic fields resulting
1.17from such facilities on public health and welfare, vegetation, animals, materials and
1.18aesthetic values, including baseline studies, predictive modeling, and evaluation of new or
1.19improved methods for minimizing adverse impacts of water and air discharges and other
1.20matters pertaining to the effects of power plants on the water and air environment;
1.21(2) environmental evaluation of sites and routes proposed for future development and
1.22expansion and their relationship to the land, water, air and human resources of the state;
2.1(3) evaluation of the effects of new electric power generation and transmission
2.2technologies and systems related to power plants designed to minimize adverse
2.3environmental effects;
2.4(4) evaluation of the potential for beneficial uses of waste energy from proposed
2.5large electric power generating plants;
2.6(5) analysis of the direct and indirect economic impact of proposed sites and routes
2.7including, but not limited to, productive agricultural land lost or impaired and reduction in
2.8value of land adjoining and in proximity to a route;
2.9(6) evaluation of adverse direct and indirect environmental effects that cannot be
2.10avoided should the proposed site and route be accepted;
2.11(7) evaluation of alternatives to the applicant's proposed site or route proposed
2.12pursuant to subdivisions 1 and 2;
2.13(8) evaluation of potential routes that would use or parallel existing railroad and
2.14highway rights-of-way;
2.15(9) evaluation of governmental survey lines and other natural division lines of
2.16agricultural land so as to minimize interference with agricultural operations;
2.17(10) evaluation of the future needs for additional high-voltage transmission lines
2.18in the same general area as any proposed route, and the advisability of ordering the
2.19construction of structures capable of expansion in transmission capacity through multiple
2.20circuiting or design modifications;
2.21(11) evaluation of irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources should the
2.22proposed site or route be approved; and
2.23(12) when appropriate, consideration of problems raised by other state and federal
2.24agencies
2.25(c) If the commission's rules are substantially similar to existing regulations of a
2.26federal agency to which the utility in the state is subject, the federal regulations must
2.27be applied by the commission.
2.28(d) No site or route shall be designated which violates state agency rules.
2.29(e) The commission must make specific findings that it has considered locating a
2.30route for a high-voltage transmission line on an existing high-voltage transmission route
2.31and the use of parallel existing highway right-of-way and, to the extent those are not used
2.32for the route, the commission must state the reasons.
2.33 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 216E.12, is amended by adding a subdivision
2.34to read:
3.1 Subd. 4a. Adjoining real property. An owner of real property that is not included
3.2in a route but which is in proximity to the route has the right to compensation from the
3.3utility for diminution in the value of the property caused by the construction of the line,
3.4if the owner's property is diminished in value by 50 percent or more because of the
3.5construction of a high-voltage transmission line in the route.
