ARTICLE 1

MINNESOTA ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PERMITTING ACT

Section 1.

new text begin [216I.01] CITATION.
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new text begin This chapter may be cited as the "Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act."
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Sec. 2.

new text begin [216I.02] DEFINITIONS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Applicability. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this chapter, the terms defined in this
section have the meanings given, unless context clearly indicates or provides otherwise.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Associated facility. new text end

new text begin "Associated facility" means a building, equipment,
communication instrumentation, or other physical structure that is necessary to operate a
large energy infrastructure facility. Associated facility includes transmission lines designed
for and capable of operating at 100 kilovolts or less that interconnect the large energy
infrastructure facility with the existing high-voltage transmission system.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Commission. new text end

new text begin "Commission" means the Public Utilities Commission.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Construction. new text end

new text begin "Construction" means any clearing of land, excavation, or other
action that adversely affects the site's or route's natural environment. Construction does not
include changes needed to temporarily use sites or routes for nonutility purposes, or uses
in securing survey or geological data, including necessary borings to ascertain foundation
conditions.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Cultivated agricultural land. new text end

new text begin "Cultivated agricultural land" has the meaning
given in section 216G.01, subdivision 4.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Department. new text end

new text begin "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Energy storage system. new text end

new text begin "Energy storage system" means equipment and
associated facilities designed with a nameplate capacity of 10,000 kilowatts or more that is
capable of storing generated electricity for a period of time and delivering the electricity
for use after storage.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin High-voltage transmission line. new text end

new text begin "High-voltage transmission line" means a
conductor of electric energy and associated facilities that is (1) designed for and capable of
operation at a nominal voltage of 100 kilovolts or more, and (2) is greater than 1,500 feet
in length.
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new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Large electric power generating plant. new text end

new text begin "Large electric power generating
plant" means electric power generating equipment and associated facilities designed for or
capable of operation at a capacity of 50,000 kilowatts or more.
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new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Large energy infrastructure facility. new text end

new text begin "Large energy infrastructure facility"
means a high-voltage transmission line, a large electric power generating plant, an energy
storage system, a large wind energy conversion system, and any associated facility.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 11. new text end

new text begin Large wind energy conversion system. new text end

new text begin "Large wind energy conversion
system" means any combination of wind energy conversion systems with a combined
nameplate capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or more, and may include transmission lines designed
for and capable of operating at 100 kilovolts or less that interconnect a large wind energy
conversion system with a high-voltage transmission line.
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new text begin Subd. 12. new text end

new text begin Permittee. new text end

new text begin "Permittee" means a person to whom a site or route permit is
issued.
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new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Person. new text end

new text begin "Person" means an individual, partnership, joint venture, private or
public corporation, association, firm, public service company, cooperative, political
subdivision, municipal corporation, government agency, public utility district, or any other
entity, public or private, however organized.
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new text begin Subd. 14. new text end

new text begin Route. new text end

new text begin "Route" means the location of a high-voltage transmission line between
two end points. The route may have a variable width of up to 1.25 miles.