Battle Lines vs. Power Lines: Part 2

Battle Lines vs. Power Lines: Part 2
Posted: Nov 13, 2013 11:03 AM CSTUpdated: Nov 13, 2013 3:22 PM CST

By Mary Cate Mannion - email

KMOT.COM - Minot, ND - News, Weather, Sports

As Northwest North Dakota  continues to grow and develop the need for electricity grows exponentially.

"Having the transmission line like this gives us the ability to provide stability to the transmission system that is already in place," says Daryl Hill, Basin Electric.

By 2025 Basin Electric predicts its power demand will increase by 30 percent. To help meet the demand Basin electric has proposed a transmission line that they're calling the "AVS to Neset line," in a place which is lacking infrastructure.

"The infrastructure needs all three. The generation but still you have to have the ability to bring in other sources and that's what this transmission line will do. By bringing power from an existing resource that has the capacity up to an area that needs that," says Hill.

Now the 200-mile proposed transmission line will run 18 miles west of Killdeer up to Williston but it will all start here at the Antelope Valley Station.

Antelope Valley Station outside of Beulah is a coal burning power plant, with the ability and power to add another transmission line. Something Basin Electric has been planning for years.

"We started analyzing this transmission line in 2011. The study application was submitted in
early 2013, 2 years after we had already announced this and well after public announcements had been made about the line in terms of environmental impact statement," says Hill.

But now Professor Tom Isern at North Dakota state University announced a historic study of the Killdeer Battlefield that could interfere with 8 miles of Basin's proposed corridor.

"Really we didn't hear about that study until virtually days before the Public Service Commission had their public meetings scheduled on this line," says Hill.

Despite being surprised by the study, Basin Electric says it has already gained seven and a half miles of easements of the eight that are within the study area, which Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk says is a positive.

"Every project we do whether it's a power line or a pipeline one of the questions I always ask percentage of easements they have. We aren't involved in easements at all but it's a nice way to gauge of how it is being received in the community," says Kalk.

And Hill says Basin Electric is more than willing to work with the various state and federal agencies involved in the permitting process.

"We have an obligation to serve. We have an obligation to get power up into that area so that the whole system doesn't go dark. Because nobody wins if northwest north Dakota is without power," says Hill.

The PSC has completed their hearings, but are still waiting on information that they requested from the Game and Fish Department, and the Historical society. Basin electric is also waiting on information from the Federal Government on an environmental impact study, and are hoping to start construction in 2014. 

http://www.kmot.com/story/23957863/battle-lines-vs-power-lines

Parts of North Dakota can be saved

Published November 17, 2012, 12:00 AM

Letter: Parts of North Dakota can be saved

The economic boom that North Dakota is experiencing is at a cost.

We recently protested drilling on the Killdeer Mountains in front of the Industrial Commission.
The global view depicted in the dramatic aerial rig photos in the hearing room does not represent what takes place on the ground.

Our contributions to the hearing in October were limited due to lack of expert witnesses in the areas of topography, transportation, archeology, fire services and wildlife management. As local residents, we experienced a sense of fatigued frustration.

A lawyer for Hess Corp. asked that letters of support and testimony be disregarded as hearsay.
Expert witnesses from Hess Corp. were unable to answer basic questions brought forth by the Industrial Commission. They noted that the oil pad locations were selected due to serious topography issues and the selected placement would maximize the economic recovery, prevent waste, prevent unnecessary drilling and preserve the pristine environment.

These statements, however noble, are reiterated verbatim at the close of each proposal leading me to think they are lip service rather than real concern.

As non-experts, we can address the statement promised by the experts.

School Superintendent Gary Wilz, my husband and son identified serious topographic issues with the road.

The intersection is partially blind and the grade steep. The hazard would be multiplied by the dramatic increase in traffic with the proposed well sites for all travelers and especially for children waiting at this intersection for the bus.

Currently, staked sites would prevent easy access for fire control. The number and proposed sites would affect wildlife habitat. This school land is open to the public and would be irreparably altered.
Economic recovery was noted, but we asked the commission to consider local industry: ranching, farming, tourism, hunting as well as oil recovery as economic gain for North Dakota.

With alternate sites reviewed, our question to the board would be — who looks out for the interest of North Dakotans.

Conversations with Game and Fish, the Historical Society and legislators lead me to believe that we can save parts of North Dakota. Hopefully this protest creates a more collaborative decision-making policy and that this area would be considered worthy of further attention.


Lori Jepson, Killdeer