MN SF2589

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 216E.03, subdivision 7 to establish considerations for the Public Utilities Commission when designating sites and routes for high-voltage transmission lines

Requires the commission to make specific findings that it has considered locating routes on existing high-voltage transmission routes and parallel existing highway right-of-way, with stated reasons if those options are not used

Mandates evaluation of 12 considerations including environmental impacts, economic effects on agricultural land, new technologies, waste energy potential, and alternatives to applicant-proposed routes

Requires the Public Utilities Commission and commissioner of transportation to cooperate in implementing the transmission line routing policy

Effective the day following final enactment, with the commission required to report any needed statutory amendments to legislative energy and transportation policy committees by January 15, 2011