Brookings

TENTATIVE Brookings County Planning and Zoning Commission - Discussion of 765 kV Setback Recommendations

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Brookings County Development Department (Planning & Zoning), 520 3rd St., Suite 110, Brookings, SD 57006

• Show up, speak out, Call your neighbors and bring them too!

“BROOKINGS, SD (KELO.com) — It was a packed house Thursday night as a Brookings County Planning and Zoning subcommittee addressed the issue of a proposed 765-kilovolt power line. A long line of residents testified against the line, expressing health concerns from stray voltage. They asked the subcommittee to reject the project altogether, or to require large setbacks from residential areas and farms. The line would cross the property of a Hutterite Colony. Colony member Lawrence Wipf compared the power line to his colony’s recent application for a new hog barn: “That setback (for the hog barn) was a half mile. So, why is that a half mile (setback)? I’m sure it’s got its reasons, I don’t know exactly why, but it’s a half mile. So, I would say in all fairness, this one should be no less than that, if not more.” The subcommittee approved a 2,000-foot setback requirement. Their proposal will go to the Brookings County Planning and Zoning commission, which will take up the issue early next month.”

IMPORTANT! SD Public Utilities Commission public input - 765 kV (EL26-026)

Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · 6:00pm

Brookings Inn, 2500 E. Sixth St., Brookings

PowerOn Midwest facility permit SD Public Utilities Commission public input, 765 kV (EL26-026) Email puc@state.sd.us, or mail PUC, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501. Include EL26-026, your full name, mailing address, email and phone. Accepted until the decision; no party status needed (PUC Siting Guide, page 2).

“On September 4, 2026, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) received a facility permit application (Application) from Northern States Power Company, doing business as Xcel Energy, and Otter Tail Power Company, (collectively, Applicants) for the PowerOn: Big Stone South to Brookings County to South Dakota/Minnesota Border Project (Project). The Project will consist of an approximately ninety-mile long 765 kilovolt (kV) transmission line located in Grant, Deuel and Brookings Counties in South Dakota and associated facilities including the Big Stone Station Expansion in Grant County, and the 345 kV Brookings County Substation expansion ( consisting of an expansion of the current 345 kV Brookings County Substation and a new expansion area to enable the 765 kV connection approximately five miles away) in Brookings County. The Project also includes an approximately five-mile long 345 kV transmission line connecting the Brookings County 345 kV Substation Expansion to the Brookings County 765 kV Substation expansion. Applicants anticipate construction to be completed and in service in 2034. Applicants estimate the total construction cost of the proposed Project to be approximately $1.3 billion to $1.7 billion. The Commission has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to SDCL Chapters 1-26 and 49-41 Band ARSD Chapter 20:10:22. Pursuant to SDCL 49-418-15 and 49-418-16 the Commission hereby provides Notice that the Commission will hold the following public input meetings:”