Western Dakota Energy Association – The ND Public Service Commission approved siting applications for two Basin Electric high-voltage transmission projects in western North Dakota this week.

Commissioners granted permits for both 345-kilovolt projects: the Pioneer-to-Judson line and the Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge line. Hearings on the two projects were held last month in Williston and Killdeer.

The 14.6-mile Pioneer-to-Judson 345-kV line will connect the Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV project to the Judson substation near Williston. The line is necessary to transmit power from the units under construction at Pioneer to the grid that serves Basin Electric member cooperatives.

The 32.5-mile Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge 345-kV line will connect the existing Roundup substation near Killdeer in Dunn County to the Kummer Ridge substation near Johnson’s Corner in McKenzie County. The line will ensure a redundant feed to the load being served at the Kummer Ridge substation and will also provide a parallel path in the case of an outage of another nearby 345-kV line.

PSC Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said the Kummer Ridge line crosses some rough Badlands topography, which will challenge Basin’s construction crews.

Click here to listen to Fedorchak’s comments.

Fedorchak noted that the siting application was filed in mid-December, which PSC staff reviewed quickly due to its importance to ensure reliability.

Click here to listen to Haugen-Hoffart’s comments.

Commissioner Sheri Haugen-Hoffart also applauded PSC staff on the timeliness of the review, and noted the two projects combined represent a $105 million investment in western North Dakota.

PSC Chairman Randy Christmann said although the lines represent a sizable investment, they will reduce power delivery costs and ensure electric reliability in the core of the Bakken oilpatch.

Click here to listen to Christmann’s comments.

Bobby Nasset, Basin Electric supervisor of Civil Engineering and project manager for both lines, said construction of the two projects is planned to begin this spring, contingent upon receiving remaining permits and approvals. Both lines are scheduled to be in operation by the end of the year.

Click here to see a map of the Pioneer to Judson line. Click here to see a map of the Roundup to Kummer Ridge line.