BATTLE GROUND, Ind. (AP) - Officials at a working farm in Indiana that uses nearly century-old techniques say they’re hopeful that proposed power lines will be rerouted to avoid the museum’s pasture and barnyard.
Steve Dietrich, president of the board for the nonprofit Farm at Prophetstown, told The Journal & Courier that officials with the state Department of Natural Resources are still considering where to place the Duke Energy utility lines.
The lines are being moved as part of development along a lake near Prophetstown State Park’s entrance in Battle Ground. The Farm at Prophetstown group has leased 125 acres at Prophetstown since the state park opened in 2004.
“Our members and friends did a nice job of expressing our concerns, and I think the DNR listened,” Dietrich said.
Farm officials became concerned about the lines in October, when the utility unveiled three possible routes for the project.
Two of the routes are along state-owned property and one is along private property. Farm officials were told that the cheapest route runs through its site. The lines are expected to go in by 2020.
“My personal feeling is that it would difficult for them to route the power lines through the farm at this point,” Dietrich said. “But anything is possible.”
The DNR declined to provide details about the negotiations. The agency had originally worked to reach a decision by mid-October.
“DNR is working with all parties - including local and state partners, along with the utility - to identify the best solution,” the DNR said.
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