Xcel Energy and Dairyland Power are seeking approval for a massive 765 kV transmission line in Minnesota, citing system reliability and energy transition as justifications despite two decades of stagnant electricity demand. Critics argue that the multi-billion dollar project, which features a costly 90-mile detour, is actually designed to power a newly proposed, energy-intensive Google data center in Pine Island. This raises significant climate and policy concerns, as the massive new electrical load could encourage the state to rely more on out-of-state coal power and jeopardize its 2040 carbon-free goals. Ultimately, the fairness of this project is under scrutiny, as everyday ratepayers and rural farmers facing eminent domain will shoulder the financial and environmental burdens to benefit large tech corporations.

During the permitting process and public “open house” events, applicant power companies Dairyland Power and Xcel Energy have only provided bare minimum “cut and paste” explanations to serious and consequential questions. Instead of meaningful answers rooted in science, the power companies have constantly obfuscated issues to try and placate concerned citizens and local governments. We are not fooled. We demand real answers.

Dairyland and Xcel Energy (and their parent planner MISO) must be responsible and provide the burden of proof of safety. Despite untrue claims of safety at open houses, this Is not possible as they have not done the studies. The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.

Dr. Johnson—a retired cardiologist, adult cardiac electrophysiologist, and former Institutional Review Board (IRB) Chair—argues that the project represents an unmonitored human experiment that ignores modern molecular biology and medical hardware limits. As an affected landowner, he is demanding that regulators mandate either a 3.1-mile (5 km) biological safety setback or force the utility to bury the line underground using advanced grid technologies.