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Deuel County Zoning Board approves waiver option for 2,000‑foot setback on high‑voltage lines
Summary
At its Feb. 3 meeting the Deuel County Zoning Board amended an ordinance to allow landowners to accept reduced setbacks from high‑voltage transmission lines, after utilities warned a 2,000‑foot rule would lengthen routes and residents raised safety concerns. The board will forward the amendment to the County Commissioners for first reading on March 3, 2026.
CLEAR LAKE, S.D. — The Deuel County Zoning Board on Feb. 3 amended a proposed zoning rule that would have required a 2,000‑foot setback from inhabited residences for overhead transmission lines over 345 kilovolts, adding a provision that allows landowners to consent to reduced setbacks.
The change came during a joint public hearing on Ordinance #B2022-01-11 proposing rules for “Essential Services.” Utilities representing the project—Kirk Phinney of Otter Tail Power Company and Tim Rogers of Xcel Energy—told the board a 2,000‑foot requirement for a proposed 765 kV line would increase route length, require more structures and impose greater land impacts. They asked the county to consider…
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