The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved Spearmint Energy’s site permit for a 150 MW/600 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
Dubbed the Snowshoe Energy Storage Project, it is the first standalone BESS project to be permitted by the PUC, the state’s independent regulatory agency.
According to Energy Storage News, the total estimated cost is $255 million, and the project is expected to generate approximately $18,700 annually in property tax revenue.
The BESS will connect to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) through the Maple Leaf substation, operated by the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA).
Per Minnesota Statute 216B.2422, utilities with over 10,000 retail customers must integrate energy storage systems into their filings; as of 2023, Minnesota reported a storage capacity of 16 MW.
In 2024, the Minnesota Commerce Department and Xcel Energy introduced incentives to promote energy equity and solar-plus-storage to help the North Star State accelerate energy storage deployment.
“This project represents a crucial evolution in our state’s energy infrastructure,” said Commissioner John Tuma of the Showshoe BESS.
Read more here.