1 min read

Utility Making Little Progress On Power Line Easements

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Black Hills Power says the company has reached few easements with landowners along the route of a proposed $54 million power line in South Dakota and Wyoming.

The South Dakota-based utility says the line is needed to improve the reliability of the utility’s electrical system. But some of the 65 private property owners who would be affected aren’t happy with the proposed route or with the money Black Hills Power is offering.

Mark Carda with Black Hills Power tells the Rapid City Journal ( ) the number of finalized easements “is fairly small.” But he says some deals are close to being done.

The utility could resort to using the eminent domain process to have a court determine fair payment for easements. Carda says the company is working to avoid that.

___

Information from: Rapid City Journal,