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
Natural gas, oil and ethanol
Water and sewer
Additional resources

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
  - 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
  - Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States (1986): Maps of annual averages, seasonal variations, certainty estimates and aerial distribution variables
  - Wind resource maps
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
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
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
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

Minnesota
- Electric transmission lines and substations, 60 Kilovolts or greater Updated 8/16
  - Map: downloadable PDF
  - 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 new transmission lines under construction in Minnesota and the surrounding region (under "Projects")
- 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. natural gas pipeline maps
- 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

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)
National
- Edison Electric Institute member companies service territories map: The institute is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies.
- Utility service territories map: available for purchase

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)
- North American natural gas system maps and GIS data: available for purchase
- North American natural gas maps and GIS data: 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
- North American natural gas distribution map: available for purchase

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"
Local
- Twin Cities metropolitan area: Datasets from the Metropolitan Council include sewersheds, sewer interceptor system and waste water treatment plant locations (search on "sewer")
- Long-term wastewater service areas map (Regional Systems category)
- Septic systems by community (Environmental category)
- 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 Fueling Station maps
- 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 and Renewable Resources Map
Penwell MAPSearch: Energy maps and GIS data for purchase
Platts: Energy wall maps and GIS data for purchase
Midwest ESRI Utility User Group
Minnesota Department of Health
Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities
- Water supply and wastewater information

Return to MnGeo's main Utilities and Telecommunication first-stop information page