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Western ND Transmission Projects

Basin Electric is proposing to construct two transmission lines in Western North Dakota. The first in the southwestern part of the state running approximately 70 miles from Belfield to Rhame and the other, a line approximately 50 miles long, in the northwestern part of the state from Williston to Tioga.

Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager, said transmission studies in Western North Dakota indicate the system has reached its load limit in both the Southwest and Northwest regions. "Transmission lines are needed because of load growth, but the second benefit overall is a stronger transmission system,” Harper said.

Belfield-to-Rhame Transmission Project

Basin Electric is proposing to construct a 67-mile, 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that will connect the Western Area Power Administration’s (Western) substation near Belfield, ND, to a proposed new substation near Rhame, ND. For the first time in North Dakota's history, a transmission line will be built with
the help of the North Dakota Transmission Authority.

Formed in 2005, the North Dakota Transmission Authority is an authority under the Industrial Commission to promote investments in new transmission lines, build new power plants and wind facilities, help develop right-of-ways for power lines and help export energy to markets beyond state borders.

The Bank of North Dakota will finance a portion of the funding needed to complete the first phase of the project.

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson says this new line will encourage future energy development. “New transmission capacity in the western part of our state will encourage other energy development in the area. Transmission constraints have limited the use of our valuable resources including renewable energy, and this is a step forward in helping remove that barrier.”

Public meetings were held on the project July 23-24 in Belfield and Bowman, ND.

Project facts

Line purpose:	This line will strengthen the existing transmission system in the southwestern part of North Dakota, resulting in increased reliability.
Capacity:	230-kV
Length:	Approximately 67 miles
General location:	The line will connect the substation near Belfield to the proposed substation near Rhame.
Project coordinator:	Duey Marthaller
Construction start:	2009
Expected completion:	2010

Williston-to-Tioga Transmission Project

In late September 2007, the cooperative submitted a Letter of Intent to the North Dakota Public Service Commission to build a 230-kV line in Northwestern North Dakota. It will run 47 miles from an existing Western substation near Williston to an existing substation owned by Montana-Dakota Utilities near Tioga. Total project cost is estimated at $21 million.

According to Duey Marthaller, Williston-to-Tioga project coordinator, Basin Electric transmission studies identified a need for additional transmission capacity in the Northwestern part of the state. Marthaller said that work has begun on preliminary routing of the line using GIS (Geographical Information System) analysis and aerial observation.

Public scoping meetings on the project will be scheduled for early February 2008.

Project facts

Line purpose:	This line will strengthen the existing transmission system in the northwestern part of North Dakota, resulting in increased reliability. It's also being built to serve increasing load.
Capacity:	230-kV
Length:	Approximately 47 miles
General location:	The line will connect the substation near Williston to a substation near Tioga.
Project coordinator:	Duey Marthaller
Construction start:	2009
Expected completion:	2010

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• Western ND Transmission
• Glossary

 

Belfield-to-Rhame

The Belfield-to-Rhame transmission project is strengthening power delivery in Western North Dakota.

Specific information on permitting, routing, surveying, line design and right-of-way is available in the Belfield-to-Rhame brochure.

Public meetings held

An environmental assessment (EA) is being prepared under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Western Area Power Administration for the Williston- to-Tioga Transmission Project.

The EA will be developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA requires that environmental information be made available to the public  before decisions are made. 

Two public meetings on the  project were held at Williston, ND, on March 17, 2008 and in Tioga, ND, on March 18, 2008.