Work begins on Minnkota line

Construction is beginning this week on Minnkota Power Cooperative’s $312 million, 250-mile Center-to-Grand Forks transmission line.

Construction work began Tuesday near Binford, N.D., in Griggs County, with crews working both east and west.

Tree clearing and fencing began about two weeks ago, following the North Dakota Public Service Commission’s approval of a route permit last month.

The 345-kilovolt transmission line, which is the longest built in North Dakota in more than three decades, is expected to be completed by the end of 2013, according to Kevin Fee, Minnkota communications supervisor.

While the new line will deliver coal-fired power from Milton R. Young 2, a 455-megawatt coal-fired plant near Center, N.D., it also will allow Minnkota to designate an existing transmission line for wind energy.

For the latest on the project, go to www.minn

kotacgf.com.

Kevin Bonham is a reporter

at the Grand Forks Herald, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: news, electricity, energy