Subdivision 1.Applicability.

As used in this chapter, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them, unless otherwise provided or indicated by the context.

Subd. 2.Commission.

Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 216E.01

  • Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • High-voltage transmission line: means a conductor of electric energy and associated facilities designed for and capable of operation at a nominal voltage of 100 kilovolts or more and is greater than 1,500 feet in length. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01
  • Large electric power generating plant: shall mean electric power generating equipment and associated facilities designed for or capable of operation at a capacity of 50,000 kilowatts or more. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Route: means the location of a high voltage transmission line between two end points. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01
  • Site: means the location of a large electric power generating plant. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01
  • Solar energy generating system: means a set of devices whose primary purpose is to produce electricity by means of any combination of collecting, transferring, or converting solar-generated energy, and may include transmission lines designed for and capable of operating at 100 kilovolts or less that interconnect a solar energy generating system with a high-voltage transmission line. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01
  • state: extends to and includes the District of Columbia and the several territories. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
  • Utility: shall mean any entity engaged or intending to engage in this state in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy including, but not limited to, a private investor-owned utility, cooperatively owned utility, and a public or municipally owned utility. See Minnesota Statutes 216E.01

“Commission” means the Public Utilities Commission.

Subd. 3.Construction.

“Construction” means any clearing of land, excavation, or other action that would adversely affect the natural environment of the site or route but does not include changes needed for temporary use of sites or routes for nonutility purposes, or uses in securing survey or geological data, including necessary borings to ascertain foundation conditions.

Subd. 3a.Energy storage system.

“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.

Subd. 4.High-voltage transmission line.

“High-voltage transmission line” means a conductor of electric energy and associated facilities designed for and capable of operation at a nominal voltage of 100 kilovolts or more and is greater than 1,500 feet in length.

Subd. 5.Large electric power generating plant.

“Large electric power generating plant” shall mean electric power generating equipment and associated facilities designed for or capable of operation at a capacity of 50,000 kilowatts or more.

Subd. 6.Large electric power facilities.

“Large electric power facilities” means high voltage transmission lines, large electric power generating plants, and energy storage systems.

Subd. 7.Person.

“Person” shall mean 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.

Subd. 8.Route.

“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.

Subd. 9.Site.

“Site” means the location of a large electric power generating plant.

Subd. 9a.Solar energy generating system.

“Solar energy generating system” means a set of devices whose primary purpose is to produce electricity by means of any combination of collecting, transferring, or converting solar-generated energy, and may include transmission lines designed for and capable of operating at 100 kilovolts or less that interconnect a solar energy generating system with a high-voltage transmission line.

Subd. 10.Utility.

“Utility” shall mean any entity engaged or intending to engage in this state in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy including, but not limited to, a private investor-owned utility, cooperatively owned utility, and a public or municipally owned utility.