Minnesota

Officials celebrate northern Minnesota power line that could one day help make ‘green’ steel

Published

1 year ago

October 9, 2024

Officials celebrate northern Minnesota power line that could one day help make ‘green’ steel

State and federal officials gathered at a electric utility substation in northeastern Minnesota Wednesday to celebrate the funding and approval of a $940 million transmission line project that’s designed to help power a carbon-free future for the Arrowhead region.

Duluth-based Minnesota Power plans to upgrade and expand an aging high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that runs 465 miles from Center, N.D., to Hermantown to enable it to transport up to 1,500 megawatts of electricity, including renewable power from wind-rich North Dakota.

Minnesota Power’s transmission line is one of only a handful of existing HVDC lines in the country. These lines transmit electricity more efficiently over long distances than alternating current, or AC lines.

“Direct current is the best way to move lots of electricity far,” explained Pete Wyckoff, deputy commissioner of energy resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. “And we need more of these, particularly to places that need a lot of electricity.”

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The project received approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in August. It’s funded in part with a $50 million grant from the bipartisan infrastructure law. It also received $25 million from the state of Minnesota, including a $15 million appropriation from the legislature.

“We’ve never made a direct appropriation to a utility company, but we did it because we knew that we had to address climate change,” said State Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown.

The project includes replacing converter stations at both ends of the line with new buildings and electrical infrastructure, allowing the utility to nearly double the amount of energy the line delivers. The stations convert the HVDC power to AC so it can flow onto the existing electric grid.

The upgraded line will also be able to move electricity in both directions, said Minnesota Power chief operating officer Josh Skelton.

The utility currently produces 60 percent of its electricity from carbon free resources, said Bethany Owen, CEO of Allete, the parent company of Minnesota Power.

The state’s utilities are required to produce 100 percent of their power from carbon free sources by 2040. Minnesota Power expects this project to be in service between 2028 and 2030.

Utilities and state and federal agencies are scrambling to build more electric transmission capacity in Minnesota and across the region, to transport renewable energy from where it’s produced — often in rural areas — to where it’s consumed.

While there’s not a huge population base in northeastern Minnesota, the region’s heavy industry uses enormous amounts of electric power, especially the six taconite mines and processing plants that dot the Iron Range.

The taconite ore mined in Minnesota is shipped to mills around the Great Lakes where it’s made into steel.

But officials believe this new transmission line, with its ability to transport huge amounts of renewable electricity, could pave the way to a future where more of that taconite ore is processed into steel and other products here in Minnesota.

“We can use electricity to make things like green hydrogen to react with Minnesota’s oxidized iron to make high value iron products,” said Wyckoff. Maybe even “green steel,” he continued. “That is the vision.”

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Minnesota

Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East

(FOX 9) – The Minnesota National Guard tells FOX 9 there are currently 250 guard members on regularly scheduled deployment at the United States Central Command areas of responsibility as the United States leads strikes in Iran.

Guardsman in Middle East

What we know:

The Minnesota National Guard says the deployed airmen and soldiers are serving from Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing, the Marshall-based 1-151 Artillery, and the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company.

What they’re saying:

“While their missions and duty locations vary, all are grateful for the strong support of those back home,” writes Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, State Public Affairs Officer for the Minnesota National Guard.

What we don’t know:

The guard did not disclose the exact bases or countries where the soldiers and airmen are serving.

CENTCOM covers 21 countries including: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Pres. Trump says Iran operations likely to last 4 to 5 weeks

Big picture view:

In his first public remarks since the launch of the attack on Iran, President Trump said he expected operations to last four to five weeks, but he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”

The president also laid out his objective for the mission: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, to “annihilate” their navy, to ensure the country doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon and that the regime “cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

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Minnesota

U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities

Iranians in Minnesota react to Khamenei death

Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. While many Iranian-Americans expressed hope for regime change, anti-war protesters also took to the streets to condemn the military strikes, with some members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation calling the operation “unlawful” and “illegal.”

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East. Anti-war protesters also took the streets of Minneapolis Saturday.

Plus, Jewish communities say they are on high alert over concerns of potential retaliatory acts in major cities across the U.S.

‘Massive moment’

What we know:

Following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation in Iran, Khamenei was killed in an attack, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.

What they’re saying:

Iranian community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street on Sunday to express hope for regime change.

Dozens of Iranian-Americans said they are celebrating the news.

“We are here to support Iranian people. Today, everybody is happy, very happy,” said Beheshteh Zargaran, an Iranian-American.

“Killed Khamenei, which was the supreme leader, and hopefully they will continue this action and help Iranians finally topple the Islamic regime,” said Faraz Samavat, an Iranian-American.

“That means a lot. We are fighting for almost half a century to destroy this cruel regime against people of Iran,” said Ali Mohammad, an Iranian-American.

Iranians in MN celebrate strikes by Pres. Trump

Iranians in the Twin Cities are gathering in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation. Community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street to express hope for regime change after news that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes.

The other side:

Protesters also took to the streets in the Twin Cities over the weekend condemning the strikes.

Some people are criticizing the military operation including members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the strikes “unlawful” and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the war “illegal and unjustified.”

Heightened security:

Jewish communities in Minnesota say they are also on high alert following security guidance across the country to prevent potential retaliatory violence.

“A heightened sense of vigilance making sure that everybody is aware of their surroundings and that all of the protective measures are in place,” said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

There are currently no known specific threats against local Jewish communities.

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Minnesota

Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28

article

Storm reports in from Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 28.

LANESBORO, Minn. (FOX 9) – Impressive snow totals were reported in parts of Minnesota after a narrow band of heavy snowfall worked its way across the state.