EPHRATA - The Grant County PUD's Columbia-Rocky Ford Transmission line project appears on track to start construction in September.

The project is estimated to cost up to $48 million, with $13 million to $15 million for construction, explained Randy Kono, a Grant PUD project engineer. It costs an estimated $23 million for project materials.

The district plans on acquiring most of its materials by Sept. 1, with construction completion expected by the end of 2013.

Project benefits include added capacity for a growing energy load, meeting Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) reliability requirements, and providing a new wheeling path for Priest Rapids Project power to the PUD's energy load, according to a staff presentation.

Wheeling is using transmission facilities of one system to transmit power for another system.

Without the project, there would be millions in existing infrastructure upgrades, Kono said.

Grant PUD commissioner Randy Allred asked why the entire line couldn't be kept in Grant County.

Tim Culbertson, the district's general manager, explained how WECC and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requirements wouldn't allow the district to keep the line in Grant County.

Jeff Shupe, of Grant PUD, said a phase shifter would have to be installed and it would increase the cost by millions of dollars.

Progress was made with staff obtaining 12 of the 14 required environmental permits for the project.

Grant PUD lands specialist Blair Fuglie said of 118 parcels, the district secured easement/land use agreements with 83 landowners.

Land use agreements/easements are being processed for seven parcels owned by the Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, state Department of Fish and Wildlife and state Department of Natural Resources.

PUD staff is confident about securing 19 more privately owned parcels during upcoming negotiations, he explained.

The majority of agreements not finalized are due to monetary and access issues, Fuglie commented. It is not because landowners don't want the new line, he said.

A possession and use agreement provides the district the ability to move forward with construction while negotiations continue, Fuglie explained.

Allred said if the district tries to trespass on private land, people will fight it. Some people will not want a power line on their property and the district will be in court.

"We will not look good," he said.

The district's attorney, Mitch Delabarre, said the district will negotiate an agreement, or as a last resort, use condemnation.

Condemnation is the process of taking private property through eminent domain.

Allred asked how long it would take for condemnation.

Delabarre said it would take probably 90 days to obtain a determination on possession.

At that point, a price would still not be determined, Allred said.

Delabarre said he thought the district should know by the end of the month if property owners refuse the district's offers.

For more information about the project, visit www.gcpud.org/energyResources/transmissionProjects/columbiaRockyFord.html.