Real Estate & Property Law

Montana Gets it Right

By Alan Ackerman

The limitation by state regulators requiring the pipeline developer to allow the interconnection of local energy is key for the development of the State.  The biggest problem would be that some future Public Service Commission in the State changes its position on regulation and thereby allows the Canadian company complete autonomy in its future actions.   

Billings Gazette

HELENA — State regulators have granted condemnation powers to the proposed Keystone oil pipeline across Eastern Montana, but not until its developer agreed that Montana has power to regulate local oil producers' access to the line.

Eastern Montana oil producers who want to use the pipeline to ship their product now are comfortable that the state can regulate the terms of 'interconnecting' with the pipeline, one of their attorneys said Tuesday.

Continental Resources Inc. 'believes that the Keystone Pipeline has recognized its obligation to comply with state law, including matters of interconnection,' said John Alke, a Helena attorney representing Continental.

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on August 16, 2010 (boomark / email).