Montana Governor pledges help for Tie Line

Gov. Brian Schweitzer says he will help backers of a proposed power transmission line secure permits for the project that spans between Montana and Alberta.

The project, known as the Montana Alberta Tie Line, has secured financing and Canadian regulatory approval, said Johan van’t Hof. But the chief executive of the project’s parent company said federal and state approval in Montana has been delayed.

The biggest problem has been delays with the U.S. Department of Energy, which is now promising to complete a review that it originally said would be done in September, said van’t Hof, of the Tonbridge Corp. He said U.S. Sen. Max Baucus has already put pressure on the DOE.

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http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/01/17/state/65st_080117_albertapower.txt