Regulatory Approvals in Minnesota and Wisconsin Mark Major Progress for Access to Affordable, Reliable Energy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Jon Mills, Clean Grid Alliance, jmills@cleangridalliance.org
(February 18, 2026) Minneapolis, MN – Clean Grid Alliance (CGA) celebrates the significant momentum in regional transmission development following recent regulatory approvals from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MNPUC) and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). These approvals advance the Mankato–Mississippi River and Alma–Blair transmission projects, respectively.
Together, these projects form a single, continuous transmission artery connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin. The projects are part of a larger set of new lines planned across the Midwest by the region's grid operator, MISO, that will make it easier for homes and businesses in the region to run on low-cost, reliable energy.
MISO's approach identifies transmission needs at a regional scale and then pinpoints optimal solutions. The proposed projects reduce bottlenecks where there isn't enough transmission capacity to carry electricity where it needs to go, unlock access to low-cost energy resources, and avoid piecemeal, reactive infrastructure upgrades that fail to consider larger system needs. A collaborative, regional approach avoids unnecessary costs while delivering maximum benefits to consumers.
In Minnesota, for example, the MNPUC noted that reducing congestion on the system will lower energy costs and enable an estimated $3.8 billion in savings over the next 40 years. Similarly, the Wisconsin PSC noted that by reducing a transmission bottleneck in the area, these projects will deliver significant cost savings to ratepayers. In its entirety, the larger portfolio of projects – known as "Tranche 1" - is expected to save Midwesterners $37 billion over the coming decades.
The importance of strong, interconnected regional transmission has never been clearer. Across the country, electricity demand is rapidly increasing, and grid watchdogs warn that many regions face mounting resource adequacy challenges.
Regionally planned transmission lines ease the strain that rising demand places on the grid by:
- Connecting diverse generation resources across a wider geography, allowing regions with abundant wind and solar to support areas experiencing peak load.
- Reducing the need for piecemeal, redundant fixes, that fail to consider broader system needs and are less than optimal.
- Enhancing grid flexibility, which is essential as demand grows and becomes more variable due to extreme weather and rapidly increasing energy demand.
Without robust multi-state infrastructure like the projects approved in Minnesota and Wisconsin, the grid struggles to move electricity where and when it's needed most, especially during demand spikes driven by severe weather or winter cold snaps. When electricity is constrained from getting where it needs to go, consumers face higher energy prices and higher risk of blackouts.
"If you are someone who wants increased access to affordable, reliable energy, then these approvals are a win for you," said Elizabeth Wheeler, Director of Regulatory Activity and Senior Counsel at Clean Grid Alliance. "The two projects in Minnesota and Wisconsin, though approved separately because of state boundaries, advance a cohesive regional solution that will save everyday families money on their energy bills, strengthen our grid's reliability, and unlock the affordable energy resources that Midwestern communities are counting on."
Nearly all of MISO's Tranche 1 projects have received applicable state approvals. Of the 18 projects, 14 have received full approval. As construction of these lines begins, CGA will continue working with utilities, regulators, and stakeholders to ensure that the Midwest stands ready to meet tomorrow's energy demands with affordable, reliable power.
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About Clean Grid Alliance: Clean Grid Alliance powers the grid of the future in America's Heartland through collaboration, expertise, and innovation. Clean energy offers the lowest-cost, fastest-to-market solution to meet rapidly increasing energy demand while reducing consumer costs and driving economic growth. To advance affordable energy solutions, Clean Grid Alliance advocates for public policies, intervenes in regulatory processes, educates and empowers the public, and supports a fair and competitive energy market at the region's transmission operator. CGA's coalition of 80+ partners has shaped the regional energy landscape, supporting hundreds of successful wind, solar, storage, and transmission projects.
