Lawmakers consider power line eminent domain issue

MATT GOURAS,Associated Press

HELENA (AP) — Utilities and supporters of a high-voltage power line in north-central Montana asked the Legislature Wednesday to make sure eminent domain can be used to build such projects when private landowners won't let them.

A Montana judge ruled last month that the Canadian developer building the Montana Alberta Tie Line does not have the authority to condemn private property for the project.

State Sen. Ken Peterson said Wednesday in a legislative hearing that utilities had long believed they had eminent domain authority. He said his House Bill 198 makes it cle...