Basin Electric Power Cooperative is planning a second major power transmission line in western North Dakota, which the utility says is needed because of rising electricity demand from the energy industry.

The line would begin at a Western Area Power Administration substation near Williston and stretch 50 miles east to an existing substation near Tioga, North Dakota Public Service Commission filings say. It would cost more than $20 million to build.

The commission on Wednesday agreed to shorten the time that the Bismarck-based cooperative must wait before making a formal application to build the line. Basin expects to request a corridor and route permit from the PSC by June 1.

"The considerable oil development activity in northwestern North Dakota is causing an accelerated growth in requirements for electric power," Basin's general manager, Ron Harper, said in a PSC filing.

One utility in the area, Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative, "will not be able to serve forecasted load growth due to existing high-voltage transmission limitations," Harper said.

Commissioners praised the project.

"It really is a remarkable time of investment in the energy industry in North Dakota," Commissioner Tony Clark said.

Basin has already announced plans to build a second 230-kilovolt transmission line in southwestern North Dakota, which would run from a substation near Belfield to a new station that is planned near Rhame. The line would cost $33 million to build and run about 67 miles.

In regulatory filings, Harper has said he hopes both power-line projects can begin construction in 2009, and be operating the following year.