FARGO, N.D. — Democratic-NPL candidate for the North Dakota Public Service Commission Scot Kelsh outlined concerns regarding the state’s electrical grid capacity and landowner rights on Thursday.
Speaking on “Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness,” Kelsh highlighted the immense energy demands of proposed data centers across the state. He noted that a proposed facility in Morton County could require up to 1,700 megawatts of electricity, comparing it to the estimated 60 megawatts used annually by Fargo residents. Kelsh said meeting this demand will require significant new power generation and upgrades to the transmission grid, which could take years to develop.
Kelsh also criticized the PSC’s recent unanimous approval of a 345-kilovolt transmission line route from Jamestown to Ellendale. He stated that the easement contracts force landowners to shoulder heavy insurance liabilities for potential infrastructure damage from weather events, resulting in ongoing, costly legal battles for farmers.
Addressing local control, Kelsh pointed to Cass County’s Harmony Township, where a scheduled public vote on an energy moratorium was postponed this week due to public notice disputes. Kelsh argued that state officials and utility developers frequently coordinate zoning changes and development plans without adequate public input.
“The public had no idea what was going on, and so now when it’s time for them to weigh in, they say, ‘Hey, well, sorry, too late,’” Kelsh said.
Kelsh, a former state representative, is challenging Republican incumbent Jill Kringstad for a two-year unexpired term on the three-member regulatory panel. Voters will decide the race in the Nov. 3 general election.
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