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Residents urge Brookings County to adopt 2,000‑foot setback for new high‑voltage lines
Summary
Multiple Brookings County residents urged the commission to adopt a 2,000‑foot setback for transmission lines above 345 kV, citing concerns about health, livestock impacts and loss of productive land, and criticized the project team’s local familiarity and responsiveness at open houses.
Residents used a public comment period added to the March 3 agenda to press the Brookings County Commission for stronger local protections against large transmission lines proposed as part of Xcel Energy’s Power on Midwest project.
Steve January, who said his land was taken for a prior CapEx project, urged commissioners to adopt a 2,000‑foot setback and warned of practical impacts on farming operations and radio reception. "I have 345 kilovolt poles on my property and when I drive a tractor underneath it I lose KWAT radio for weather alerts," January said, adding he could not imagine the effects of a 765 kV line.
Sue Engleman, an electronics engineering technologist, urged the commission to match Dual County’s 2,000‑foot setback for transmission structures above 345 kV and described perceived gaps in Xcel’s local outreach: "When I went to their open house they couldn't answer basic questions about which towns would be affected," she said. Other commenters, including a nurse and local landowners, expressed similar concerns about long‑term health risks, impacts to livestock and community character.
Speakers referenced studies and anecdotal reports; county staff and commissioners did not evaluate those studies during the meeting. Commissioners heard requests for stronger zoning or setback language and for more substantive local engagement prior to permit filings. The commission did not adopt any new setback or ordinance at the meeting; commissioners asked staff and legal counsel to consider enforceability and to place related items on future agendas.
