An easement is a legal right to use another’s land for specific limited purposes, such as constructing, operating and maintaining transmission lines. NPPD needs easements in order to enter the landowner’s property and perform construction and maintenance activities on electric transmission lines. NPPD will compensate the landowner for the easement area and also pay a structure payment. It’s important to remember that the landowner maintains ownership of the easement area. Although the property owners may continue with their current activities across the easement area, for safety purposes the easement restricts property owners from constructing buildings or structures in the easement area or planting trees or stacking hay under the transmission line. NPPD is responsible for repairing damage incurred during original construction or future maintenance of the R-Project. See the map for more details.

The R-Project construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete.

NPPD will use a combination of steel poles, lattice towers and H-frames for the R-Project. The steel poles will typically be used on sections of the project that have relatively good access or are near established roads and cultivated fields.

Lattice towers will be installed on sections of the project that have limited access. Lattice towers minimize impacts to fragile soils due to construction options. For example, the main upper portion of a lattice tower can be erected with a helicopter, which means only a small crane will be needed for the legs, and helical pier foundations can be used instead of concrete foundations.

H-frames will be used near the Thomas County Airport to support height restrictions required by the FAA. The H-frames will have a compact design and provide for shorter spans and overall shorter structure heights in this relatively small area of the project. The H-frames will be comprised of tubular steel and will be placed on helical pier foundations, similar to the lattice towers.

NPPD will use a variety of construction options and equipment to minimize disturbance.

No, NPPD does not plan to build new roads. There may be some need to make improvements to the existing roads where needed. Existing roads, trails and paths will be used as much as possible. If NPPD damages an existing road during construction, repairs will be made.

NPPD will have material storage yards located approximately 50 miles apart along the route. Lattice towers will be constructed on approximately 128 miles of the R-project line and helicopters will be used for portions of tower assembly. Fly yards, which are smaller than material yards, will be located approximately five to seven miles apart along the route with lattice towers.

NPPD has constructed, operated and maintained hundreds of miles of transmission lines in the Sandhills for decades. We understand the Sandhills’ unique and fragile ecosystem, and we take that responsibility seriously. We will continue working closely with landowners, local agencies and restoration experts to ensure the landscape is carefully restored.

One of NPPD’s goals for the entire R-Project is to minimize impacts to property. We chose construction methods that are less invasive and are suitable for the terrain.

Where disturbance occurs that needs to be restored, we will seek landowner input on their respective restoration experiences. We have consulted with a variety of agencies who have restoration experts on staff. This process will require NPPD and landowners to work together closely. In addition, NPPD has an individual on staff dedicated to right-of-way restoration.