Public Utilities Infrastructure Information for Minnesota

Use this site to find GIS data, maps and statistics that show information about Minnesota's public utilities infrastructure.

• Electric power
  • energy sources
  • transmission lines and substations
  • service areas
• Natural gas
• Water and sewer
• Additional resources

Electric Power

Energy sources

• Wind
  • Minnesota
    • 2006: Wind speed, capacity factor and energy production maps and wind speed GIS data.
    • Large wind farms map: General locations of large wind farms in Minnesota (the MN Dept. of Commerce has not authorized release of the GIS data used to create the map)
      • FAA database: A primary data source used to create the large wind farms map is the FAA's Obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis database. Instructions:  At the FAA website, select "Download Archives" from the menu on the left. Then select "Off Airport Cases", Region = AGL, then the year the permits were filed (for the AGL code, we suggest starting with 1998 and going through 2008), then select the download button. Repeat the process using Region = WTE for 2008 - the present (the AGL code includes many features other than wind turbines; wind turbines were first treated as a separate category with the WTE code in 2008). The data files are in .CSV format; they encompass the U.S. so you will have to select for the Minnesota facilities.
  • National
    • U.S. wind maps: Maps and GIS data
    • Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States (1986): Maps of annual averages, seasonal variations, certainty estimates and aerial distribution variables
    • Installed U.S. Wind Capacity maps
       
• Solar
  • Minnesota
    • Average solar radiation in Minnesota, 1998-2002 maps
  • National
    • U.S. solar maps: Maps and GIS data
       
• Nuclear
  • Minnesota
    • Basemaps of Monticello and Prairie Island plants along with emergency preparedness information such as evacuation routes and sampling points
    • Facilities list
    • Update on federal programs for the management of high-level radioactive waste: including the status of the "National Transportation Plan" with comments specific to Minnesota.
  • National
    • Map of power reactor sites
    • Maps and aerial views of U.S. reactors
    • Locations of independent spent fuel storage
       
• Hydrogen
  • National
    • U.S. hydrogen maps: Maps and GIS data
       
• Hydro
  • National
    • Virtual Hydropower Prospector: An online GIS tool designed to assist in locating and assessing natural stream water energy resources in the United States. The map shows "water energy resource sites" (including high head, low head and microhydro structures), potential hydro projects, hydro plants, transmission lines and substations, as well as a number of reference layers.
       
• Coal
  • Minnesota
    No coal producing regions are in Minnesota
    • Power Generating Facilities
      
      
  • National
    • Major coal supply regions of the U.S. map
    • Coalbed methane in the U.S. map
    • U.S. coal activity map: available for purchase
       
• Biomass
  • National maps and GIS data
    • U.S. biomass maps: Maps and GIS data
    • Renewable Energy Resources Map: Location of blending terminals and biofuel type (ethanol and biodiesel) blended at the terminal
       

Transmission lines and substations

• Minnesota
  • Electric transmission lines and substations, 60 Kilovolts or greater  Updated 6/20/07
    • Map
    • GIS data: must be requested
  • CapX 2020 project: A joint initiative of 11 transmission-owning utilities in Minnesota and the surrounding region to expand the electric transmission grid to ensure continued reliable service.
    • Maps of proposed new transmission lines in Minnesota and the surrounding region (under "Projects")
    • Maps of Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) projects (under "Documents", "Studies")
  • Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative final report 9/29/10:  Regional transmission planning effort included Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The report includes two general maps of possible renewable resource areas and potential transmission corridors.
  • Minnesota Electric Transmission Planning: map of planning zones
     
• Regional and national
  • U.S. Power System map and energy mapping application: available for purchase
  • Northeast and Midwest Transmission System map: available for purchase
  • North American Electric Power System map and GIS data: available for purchase
  • Electric Power Generation and Transmission Systems of the U.S. and Canada map and GIS data: available for purchase
  • Midwest Independent Transmission System Operators (MISO)
    • MISO service area map
    • MISO Coordinated Generation Interconnection Queue map (219K, PDF)
    • Locational Marginal Pricing contour map and table
       

Service areas

• Minnesota (in progress)
  • Detailed statewide electric utility service area boundaries will be available. With funding from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), MnGeo had the original paper boundary maps scanned and converted them to a GIS format. The PUC and electric utility companies operating in Minnesota are completing their final review of the data. Currently, MnGeo and the PUC anticipate public release of the data and a finalized web-based viewing service in July 2013.
    • Web-based viewing service (version for final review)
    • More information on the update process
    • E-dockets system where all the change documents can be found (search for Docket # 12-957)
    • Dataset documentation
  • Xcel Energy: very generalized map of the company's service areas in 8 states, including Minnesota.
• National
  • Utility service territories map:  available for purchase
  • Utility territories:  available for purchase
     

Natural Gas

Pipeline locations

• National
  • National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) (restricted distribution)
    The NPMS GIS data set is overseen by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration working with other federal and state agencies and the pipeline industry. It contains the location and selected attributes of the major gas transmission and hazardous liquid transmission pipelines, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities operating in United States and other offshore entities. Distribution of NPMS GIS data is limited to pipeline operators and local, state, and federal government officials.
    • NPMS Public Map Viewer: View pipeline data by county (no data download)
    • Documentation: including ordering instructions
  • U.S. natural gas system map: available for purchase
  • U.S. natural gas atlases: available for purchase

Natural gas utility service areas

MnGeo is not aware of any maps or GIS data showing the detailed boundaries of Minnesota's natural gas utility service areas.

• National
  • Local distribution company territories map: available for purchase
     

Gas fields

• National (no areas are in Minnesota)
  • Top 100 U.S. Oil and Gas Fields by 2009 Proved Reserves map
  • Areas of Historical Oil and Gas Exploration and Production in the United States map
     

Water supply systems

Public water supplies are built and administered locally but there is state (Minnesota Department of Health) and federal (Environmental Protection Agency) oversight through the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Minnesota Water Well Construction Code. MDH administers the federal regulations and requires that all public water supplies – community and non-community – report water quality information to them.

• State
  • County Well Index Online: maps of well locations and wellhead protection areas (does not include wells supplying public water systems -- this information is limited access)
  • Source water protection maps and GIS data
  • Drinking water protection
     
• Twin Cities
  • Water Supply and Demand: Pre-made maps and data by municipality
  • Make-A-Map: Interactive mapping -- see "Water Supply Planning" theme
     

Sewer systems

• National
  • EPA Envirofacts: Search for sewer system locations and information using "SIC Code = 4952"
     
• Local
  • Twin Cities metropolitan area: Datasets on the MetroGIS DataFinder website include sewersheds, sewer interceptor system and waste water treatment plant locations
  • Local government websites: Look for public works departments or GIS departments

Additional utility map, data and information resources

• Utility providers: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
• Office of Energy Security: Minnesota Department of Commerce
• U.S. Department of Energy
  • National Renewable Energy Lab GIS
  • Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    • Alternative Energy Resources in Minnesota
    • Alternative Fueling Station maps
  • Energy Information Administration: Official energy statistics
    • Minnesota Energy Profile
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • USDA Energy Investments Map and Renewable Resources Map
• Penwell MAPSearch: Energy maps and GIS data for purchase
• Platts Info Store: Energy wall maps and GIS data for purchase
• Midwest ESRI Utility User Group: Annual meeting and message board
• Minnesota Department of Health
  • Source water protection
  • Drinking water protection
  • Community public water supplies
  • Non-community public water supplies
• Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities
  • Water supply and wastewater information

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