Maps

The information below provides C-BED developers with potentially useful maps that address wind generation capacity, substation capacity, and transmission capacity in Minnesota.

Wind Energy Maps

The following maps from the University of Minnesota's Center for Urban and Regional Affiars (CURA) describe wind energy capacity in five regions of Minnesota:

Minnesota Transmission Study (CAPX2020)

C-BED Transmission Study (1680 KB) - The CapX 2020 utilities, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and the North American Water Office, conducted a transmission study looking at the impacts of adding C-BED generation projects to the high voltage transmission system in Minnesota. This was a high level study that investigated the types and amounts of impacts that may be encountered with the addition of dispersed C-BED wind generation in the West Central Minnesota Transmission Planning Zone under 2009 summer peak load conditions. (January 17, 2007)

Maps associated with the above transmission study:

C-BED 800 MW Generation Map (1,672 KB)
C-BED 1400 MW Generation Map (1,672 KB)

Also available:

West Central C-BED Map (1,680 KB)
West Central Supporting Documentation (26 KB)
Southeast C-BED Map (1,238 KB)
Southeast Supporting Documentation (27 KB)
Southwest C-BED Map (1,238 KB)
Southwest Supporting Documentation (18 KB)
Northeast C-BED Map (1,646 KB)
Northeast Supporting Documentation (31 KB)
Northwest C-BED Map (1,275 KB)
Northwest Supporting Documentation (20 KB)

From the Executive Summary: "In general, this study has shown that the addition of dispersed C-BED generation in the West Central Zone causes some facilities within and around the West Central Zone and in the Twin Cities area to overload. This study also demonstrated that the addition of C-BED generation might also improve local reliability in certain situations. Preliminary estimates of the high voltage transmission additions necessary to maintain reliable operation were on the order of $50 million dollars for 800 MW of C-BED generation and $97 million for 1,400 MW of generation. This does not include the cost for interconnecting the generator to the transmission system and any impacts on the lower voltage transmission system."

The CAPX2020 web site is located here.