A legal fight over the proposed JETx transmission line tied to Jamestown has moved to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
The lawsuit was filed by townships, landowners and farm interests along the Jamestown-to-Ellendale route. They argue Otter Tail Power, Montana-Dakota Utilities and the Public Service Commission used the wrong legal process when the state first ruled the line was needed.
The plaintiffs say that kept local governments from getting direct notice early on.
Opponents of the line also argue that limited what could be discussed later at public hearings, including the Stutsman County hearing held in Jamestown in January.
Utility attorneys say the two step permitting process is standard and lawful. The utility companies issued statements saying the project would improve reliability, including in the Jamestown area.
The proposed high-voltage line would run through Stutsman, LaMoure and Dickey counties. The PSC still has not issued a final route decision.
More briefs are due at the Supreme Court by the end of April. More on this story can be found at NorthDakotaMonitor.com with extensive reporting by Jeff Beach.
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