To address the rising energy demand from transportation electrification and data centers, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has been collaborating with other states and agencies to explore highway rights-of-way (ROW) as a potential solution for generating and transmitting power. The Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) and the Research & Innovation Office (RIO) at the University of Minnesota are also collaborating with various partners to support this effort.
In April 2024, CTS and RIO hosted a workshop on using ROW for energy transmission, drawing a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss the current state and identify research opportunities. In September 2024, CTS director Kyle Shelton joined MnDOT at a national convening in Washington, DC, to track similar work on a national scale.
Through these efforts, CTS and RIO are helping shape the future of energy infrastructure and transmission using ROWs.
Read the complete workshop summary
April 2024 Workshop Snapshot
Goals: To set a foundation for sharing knowledge and outline areas for additional research that supports state and national ROW energy initiatives.
Key takeaways:
- Aligning ROW energy projects with state and federal climate action plans is essential and can be incentivized through legislative support.
- Updating regulatory systems and increasing collaboration between state-level departments could accelerate progress nationwide.
- Transmission projects linking urban areas through smaller communities should aim to empower and benefit these communities.
- A potential state task force could help streamline ROW energy projects in Minnesota.
Research opportunities: Areas for continued exploration include ROW safety, localized generation, regulatory trends, scenic bylaws, and more.
—Krysta Rzeszutek, CTS digital editor