WA farmers fight Grant County PUD over data center line easements

Grant County farmers and other landowners are appealing a Superior Court judge's ruling that permits the Grant County Public Utility District (PUD) to condemn their property for a high-voltage transmission line. Superior Court Judge Jennifer Richardson ruled this month that the PUD can acquire land for a 31-mile, 230-kilovolt line, which is intended to bring hydroelectricity from Wanapum Dam to data centers and other customers in Quincy, Washington.

Eight landowners are appealing the decision to the Court of Appeals Division III. They allege the PUD violated the law by moving to condemn their property without offering fair compensation, with attorney James Bulthius stating the order allows government agencies to "knowingly lowball landowners and jump straight to condemnation." Landowners cite the PUD's policy of offering 25% to 40% of fair market value as insufficient, arguing it does not account for the loss of value to the rest of their property. One landowner, Lisa Marcusen, called a $20,000 offer for a half-mile strip of her farm "an insult and unfair compensation."

PUD spokesman Chuck Allen affirmed the utility's commitment to the project, stating it will improve service for Quincy customers and that they will continue to work with landowners to mitigate concerns. The PUD chose a route across private property over shorter, less expensive routes through a state wildlife area, believing it would avoid environmental reviews and mitigation costs. The PUD hopes to begin building the transmission line in 2028, with estimated costs rising from $40 million to $86 million.