Public Utilities Infrastructure Information for Minnesota

Data and Map Collections

• U.S. Energy Information Administration
• Data Maps, Tools, Browsers and Dashboards
• Documentation and shapefile download: More than 50 national energy data layers plus additional reference layers


• U.S. Energy Atlas: A comprehensive reference for data and interactive maps of energy infrastructure and resources in the U.S.

Electric Power

Energy sources

• Wind
  • Featured Data Source
    • U.S. Wind Turbine Database: Map viewer with analysis tools, web services and downloadable data. Includes turbines from the FAA database described below. Extensive help and documentation.
    • Minnesota wind turbines: selected from the U.S. Wind Turbine Database
    
     
  • Minnesota
    • 2006: Wind speed, capacity factor and energy production maps and wind speed GIS data.
    • FAA database: A primary data source for the location of large wind farms 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


• Solar
  • Minnesota
    • Solar insolation
  • 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
  • National
    • Map of power reactor sites
    • Maps and aerial views of U.S. reactors
    • Locations of independent spent fuel storage
       
• Biomass
  • National maps and GIS data
    • U.S. biomass maps: Maps and GIS data
• Coal
  • Minnesota: No coal producing regions are in Minnesota
  • National
    • Major coal supply regions of the U.S. map
    • Coalbed methane in the U.S. map
  
  
• Geothermal
  • National Geothermal Data System: Catalog of documents and datasets that provide information about geothermal resources
     
• Hydrogen
  • National
    • U.S. hydrogen maps: Maps and GIS data
       

Transmission lines and substations

• National
  • Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD): openly available and limited-access data on U.S. critical infrastructure - for current status on the availability of datasets see the HIFLD Catalog
  • Transmission lines
  • Substations - HIFLD previously provided a publicly available dataset of substations across the US, however, access is now limited to credentialed users - see the HIFLD homepage for credentialed user login and access requests
  
  
• Minnesota
  • Electric transmission lines and substations  7/20/2022: Given existing accuracy problems with the dataset and insufficient current information, the Minnesota Department of Commerce cannot continue to support the distribution and use of this dataset.
  • Grid North Partners: A joint initiative of transmission-owning utilities in Minnesota and the surrounding region to expand the electric transmission grid to ensure continued reliable service.
    • Maps of new transmission lines under construction in Minnesota and the surrounding region (under "Projects")
  • Minnesota Electric Transmission Planning: Map of planning zones
     

Service areas

• Minnesota
  • Detailed official statewide electric utility service area boundaries are 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 have reviewed the data, although some boundary changes are still being updated and continue to be under review.
    • Web-based viewing service
    • Documentation and data download
    • E-dockets system where all the change documents can be found (search for Docket # 12-957)
       

Natural Gas and Ethanol

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
  • About U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines: Maps and tables
  • Interactive U.S. pipeline map of INGAA members (Interstate Natural Gas Association of America)
  
  

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.

Oil and 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
     

Ethanol

• Minnesota
  • Locations of commercial ethanol manufacturing plants: GIS data
     

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.

• Minnesota Well Index Online: maps of well locations and information (does not include wells supplying public water systems -- this information is limited access)
• Source water protection maps and GIS data
• Drinking water protection
   

Sewer systems

• National
• EPA Envirofacts: Search for sewer system locations and information using "SIC Code = 4952"
• State
• Wastewater Facilities regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Local
• Twin Cities metropolitan area: Datasets from the Metropolitan Council include sewersheds, sewer interceptor system and waste water treatment plant locations (search on "sewer")
• Local government websites and city GIS contacts list:  Look for public works departments or GIS departments

Additional utility map, data and information resources

• Find a utility: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
• Minnesota Department of Commerce Energy
• Gopher State One Call: The One Call notification system established to inform all Minnesota underground facility operators of intended excavation. As the communication link between the excavator and the underground facility operator, it has increased public safety while decreasing underground facility damage, monetary loss, and personal injury by coordinating the locating of underground facilities.
• Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association
• Minnesota Rural Electric Association
• U.S. Department of Energy
  • National Renewable Energy Lab GIS
  • Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
    • States and local communities information
    • Alternative Fuels Data Center
  • Energy Information Administration: Official energy statistics
    • Minnesota Energy Profile
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulated energy industries
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • USDA Energy Investments Map
• MAPSearch: Energy GIS data and online mapping for purchase
• S&P Global Platts: Energy GIS data and data viewer for purchase
• Midwest Esri Utility User Group
• 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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