PSC Reschedules Public Hearings For Proposed Transmission Line Project
mmission (PSC) has rescheduled a public hearing and will hold an additional hearing regarding a proposal to construct a transmission line in Mercer, McLean, Ward, Mountrail and Williams Counties.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative is requesting a siting permit for the construction of a 345-kV transmission line. The line would be approximately 162 miles long and would originate at the Leland Olds Station substation located southeast of Stanton and would end at the Tande substation east of Tioga. Estimated cost of the project is $317 million.
This project was selected by the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) as part of the 2021 Interregional Transmission Planning process to mitigate reliability constraints and to increase load serving capability in the region. The project would complete a 345-kV loop around the north side of Lake Sakakawea between two existing substations where no 345-kV transmission exists today.
The hearing in Stanley was postponed after a newspaper publication error. A public notice failed to run in one of the official county newspapers as required by law before a hearing is held. The Commission did previously hold a hearing in Underwood, but has scheduled another hearing to ensure that anyone who wants to provide comments has the opportunity. Those who testified at the previous hearing do not have to attend the additional hearing - those comments will be included as part of the official record for the case.
Details for the public hearings are as follows:
Monday, March 31, 2025 - 1 p.m. Central
Underwood City Hall - Carl Bader Hall (Gymnasium)
88 Lincoln Ave.
Underwood, ND 58576
Friday, April 4, 2025 - 9 a.m. Central
Mountrail County South Complex
8103 61st St. NW
Stanley, ND 58784
The hearings provide an opportunity for members of the public to contribute to the PSC’s official record. Any comments from members of the public must be received at a hearing to be part of the record. People with concerns, questions or support/opposition for the project are encouraged to attend a hearing and present their information. Information received after the hearing will not be part of the official record and cannot be used as a basis for the Commission’s decision unless certain additional procedures are followed.
The North Dakota Public Service Commission is a constitutionally created state agency with authority to permit, site and regulate certain business activities in the state including electric and gas utilities, telecommunications companies, power plants, electric transmission lines, pipelines, railroads, commercial weighing devices, pipeline safety and coal mine reclamation. For more information, contact the Public Service Commission at (701) 328-2400 or www.psc.nd.gov.