Minnesota Statutes Utilities (Ch. 216-216H) § 216I.11. Permitting requirements; exceptions for certain facilities

(1) maintaining or repairing an existing large energy infrastructure facility within an existing site or right-of-way;

(2) adding equipment at an existing substation that does not (i) require more than a one-acre expansion of the land needed for the substation, and (ii) involve an increase in the voltage or changes in the location of existing transmission lines, except that up to the first five transmission line structures outside the substation may be moved to accommodate the equipment additions, provided the structures are not moved more than 500 feet from the existing right-of-way;

(3) reconductoring or reconstructing a high-voltage transmission line that does not result in a change to voltage or a change in right-of-way;

(4) relocating a high-voltage transmission line that is required by a local or state agency as part of road, street, or highway construction;

(5) converting the fuel source of a large electric power generating plant to natural gas, provided the plant is not expanded beyond the developed portion of the plant site; and

(6) starting up an existing large electric power generating plant that has been closed for any period of time at no more than the large electric power generating plant's previous capacity rating and in a manner that does not involve changing the fuel or expanding the developed portion of the plant site.