Community Benefits Snapshot: North Plains Connector Transmission Line Community Engagement and Benefits

The North Plains Connector (NPC) is a $3.2 billion, 420-mile high-voltage direct current transmission project designed to connect the western and eastern electric grids. The developer, North Plains Connector LLC, has adopted a "landowner-first approach," prioritizing voluntary agreements over eminent domain and modifying the route by adding 50 miles to accommodate local siting requests. Community benefits include $3.9 million in grants distributed via local foundations, over $62 million in federal TSED grants secured for local infrastructure, and the creation of approximately 800 construction jobs. The project also facilitates expanded wind energy exports for the Standing Rock Sioux. While this high-upfront-investment model has reduced local opposition, the document notes it requires "patient capital" and its long-term financial efficiency compared to traditional development remains unproven.

• The North Plains Connector (NPC) is a 420-mile, 525 kilovolt high-voltage direct current transmission line connecting Colstrip, Montana, to St. Anthony and Center, North Dakota, with an estimated investment of $3.2 billion.
• The project is expected to increase bi-directional transfer capacity between the western and eastern electric grids by 3,000 megawatts, improving reliability for the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC).
• NPC LLC utilized a "landowner-first approach" to siting, avoiding the use of eminent domain and adding 50 miles to the original route to honor individual landowner requests, which increased the route length by roughly 14%.
• The developer distributed $3.9 million in community grants—$2.1 million in North Dakota and $1.8 million in Montana—using local community foundations to manage distribution and select beneficiaries to maintain autonomy and credibility.
• Through the developer's grant-writing support, local entities secured over $62 million from the Inflation Reduction Act's Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) program, including $47.5 million for Montana's rural counties and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, and $15 million for the North Dakota towns of Mott and Amidon.
• The transmission line enables the Standing Rock Sioux, via the SAGE Development Authority, to increase their wind energy export capacity by an additional 165 MW beyond their current 235 MW.
• NPC LLC plans to employ 800 workers during construction and is partnering with Highlands College, Bismarck State College, and United Tribes Technical College to provide training in CDLs, line work, and environmental inspection.
• The developer's strategy of high upfront investment in community engagement and route flexibility—potentially costing $35-$50 million for the extra mileage—is intended to reduce long-term costs from litigation and regulatory delays, though this remains unproven and requires "patient capital."

APA

World Resources Institute (2025). Community Benefits Snapshot: North Plains Connector Transmission Line Community Engagement and Benefits. https://www.wri.org/snapshots/community-benefits-snapshot-north-plains-connector-transmission-line-community-engagement

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Community Benefits Snapshot: North Plains Connector Transmission Line Community Engagement and Benefits. 2025. https://www.wri.org/snapshots/community-benefits-snapshot-north-plains-connector-transmission-line-community-engagement.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Community Benefits Snapshot: North Plains Connector Transmission Line Community Engagement and Benefits |date=5 March 2025 |url=https://www.wri.org/snapshots/community-benefits-snapshot-north-plains-connector-transmission-line-community-engagement |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2025community, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Community Benefits Snapshot: North Plains Connector Transmission Line Community Engagement and Benefits}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/snapshots/community-benefits-snapshot-north-plains-connector-transmission-line-community-engagement}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }