Basin Electric plans $300 million power line in western ND

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Basin Electric Power Cooperative is asking regulators for permission to build a $300 million electric power transmission line in western North Dakota.

The line would run for 200 miles. It would start at Basin Electric's Antelope Valley power station near Beulah and go west to a substation near Grassy Butte.

From there the proposed line would run northwest to Williston, then back northeast to Tioga. Basin wants to build two new electric power substations as part of the project.

Public Service Commission President Tony Clark says the high-voltage line would help serve the growing electricity needs of western North Dakota's oil industry.

The PSC will have to approve the route for the new power line. Basin Electric hopes to start construction in 2014 and finish in two years.

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