Sheridan — The Sheridan County Board of County Commissioners reaffirmed its opposition to the construction of a new power transmission line near Big Horn on Monday.
Montana-Dakota Utilities started construction on a new 41.6kV transmission line last month. The 4.2-mile line that connects MDU’s substation near Swaim Road to its substation near Big Horn is approximately 25% complete.
During its staff meeting Monday morning, the board approved a letter opposing the line’s construction above ground near two subdivisions. The letter will be sent to Wyoming’s Public Service Commission.
Sheridan County Commissioner Mike Arzy explained that the letter is intended to support property owners who have expressed concerns about the project, as well as to guide future community growth.
“This is not an opposition to the need for the line or its installation across existing easements that are currently being used for utility lines by MDU,” the enclosed letter states. “There are a few options that MDU has available to complete the project but without interfering with pristine land that will devalue innocent parties’ residential properties.”
Sheridan County Assessor Paul Fall said it’s difficult to predict whether the power lines will lower property values for existing owners. He added that the value may fall for existing owners who are accustomed to having nothing in their viewshed, but the impact cannot be determined until the houses are sold.
The letter comes after the board rejected two license agreements to have the line cross Box Cross Road overhead, costing $370. The agreements were tabled twice by commissioners during regular meetings on August 5 and September 2, before being rejected at the regular meeting on September 16.
An MDU spokesperson told The Sheridan Press last week that the company intends to continue with the current permitted work.
The letter states that the board is urging MDU to either build the line underground or use existing utility easements and corridors along Upper and Box Cross roads.
“We are not seeking to regulate this public utility but request that the MDU transmission line follow an alternative route that does not negatively affect the residents of Sheridan County as well as the general viewshed,” according to the letter.
Alternative routes in existing easements would raise the existing power lines, causing concern among other nearby property owners; Carmine Loguidice expressed this during previous commission meetings.
MDU Electric Transmission Director Rob Frank also stated at a public meeting earlier this month that existing easements are insufficient to construct the new power transmission lines; existing easements are approximately 30 feet wide, whereas the new easements are 50 feet wide.
The board voted 4-1 to forward the letter to the Public Service Commission.
Commissioner Christi Haswell was the sole dissenting vote. She suggested that the board send a letter to the county’s legislative delegation instead, which could help give the county more control over utility companies.
“We have no authority,” Haswell explained.
Wyoming Statute 18-2-116, enacted in 2021, states that the county may not implement or enact any policy prohibiting the connection of an electric utility service line. Vandehei Developers v. Public Service Commission of Wyoming, a Wyoming Supreme Court case decided in 1990, established that county commissioners cannot dictate whether a power transmission line is built above or below ground.
According to Commissioner Holly Jennings, the letter is intended to request that MDU consider a different construction location.
“It’s not requiring them to because obviously we can’t require them to, but it’s a request,” Jennings told the crowd.
