Oil boom spikes need for electricity
Local electric co-ops are busy expanding their capacities, and a major provider is also taking steps to move power into the oil country region.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- September 3, 2010
Originally broadcast by KXMC CBS 13
Reported by Jim Olson
Watch the video at this link: Oil boom spikes need for electricity
Can power companies handle the oil boom?
Local electric co-ops are busy expanding their capacities, and a major provider is also taking steps to move power into the oil country region.
Jim Olson reports on a multi-million dollar project to bring more electricity to western North Dakota.
Workers had the day off on a recent rainy day in western North Dakota, but you can see what's going on, even on a down day. A major new power line is going up from Williston to near Tioga
"To help some of the lack of electrical power for oil service and farmers and development in the area."
Sitting dry in his pickup, construction coordinator Mark Winn says this 61-mile power line project provides jobs to more than 40 people on most days. "We're working six days a week, 12 hour days. They may work seven days if there's a rain delay and they have to make up."
Winn says new power delivery for this part of oil country simply must be done. "It's vital to get the electricity where it's needed."
And so the poles sit, waiting to be set upright and strung with new lines to get electricity from populated areas, to parts of the region where there's a lot more open space.
"The power is there, it's just getting it to where it's needed." Winn says a new power line like this one is really a drop in the bucket. The $26 million project will likely be followed by more construction to keep up with growing demand. "I don't even see where we can keep up. I don't even know is I should really say that but it's something, with the growth and development in such a concentrated area, it's pretty hard to stay ahead."
But when it's not too wet, the work will continue to get electricity to the rigs that are fueling the oil boom in western North Dakota. Construction on the 61-mile power line is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
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