The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission could decide the fate of the proposed Big Stone II power plant this week.

The commission will hear final arguments from supporters as well as the environmental groups that oppose the 580-megawatt coal-fired plant on Tuesday afternoon. The PUC is expected to debate and vote on the issue Thursday morning.

The plant would be built just across the border near Milbank, S.D. But the PUC has to decide whether to approve the 140 miles of new transmission lines that would run across Minnesota.

Dan Sharp, the Big Stone II construction manager, says the transmission line certificate of need is the last of seven major permits the project needs.

The utilities behind the project say they can't build the plant without the power lines.

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