Grant County Judge Approves Land Condemnation for Data-Center Power Line Project

Grant County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Richardson ruled that the Grant County Public Utility District (Grant PUD) may proceed with condemning nine properties to build power lines serving a new data-center facility. The decision held that the utility’s compliance with “required negotiation and appraisal procedures” was not essential to validate the county’s condemnation action.

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Grant PUD has been planning a power-line corridor to supply electricity to a data-center development in the region. Under Washington’s eminent-domain statutes, a utility can acquire private land for public infrastructure, provided it follows prescribed negotiation and appraisal steps. The county’s condemnation of the nine parcels was challenged on the grounds that the utility may have bypassed these procedural requirements.

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• Jennifer Richardson – Grant County Superior Court judge who issued the ruling.

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• Grant County Public Utility District – Utility seeking the land for the data-center power line.

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• Unnamed property owners – Landholders of the nine condemned parcels, including at least one plaintiff who disputes the valuation.

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• The plaintiff alleges that Grant PUD’s appraisal undervalued her property by $600,000 relative to its market worth.

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• Judge Richardson indicated that the county’s decision to condemn the properties remains valid regardless of whether the utility completed the statutory negotiation and appraisal process.

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• Grant PUD has not publicly commented on the judge’s reasoning but continues to pursue the power-line construction.

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• The plaintiff maintains that the undervaluation constitutes a breach of fair-compensation standards and seeks appropriate remuneration.

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The ruling does not clarify how a jury, if convened, would determine the final compensation for the condemned properties. No detailed appraisal methodology from Grant PUD has been disclosed, leaving the extent of the alleged $600,000 shortfall unverified.

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If the parties cannot reach a settlement, the matter may proceed to a jury trial to resolve the compensation dispute for the nine properties. The outcome will affect the timeline and cost structure of the data-center power-line project.

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