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Power line in Grant County

Workers finish connecting the upper and lower portions of a high-voltage power-line tower in Grant County, Minnesota, 1976–1978.

Peaceful March for Justice flyer

Peaceful March For Justice flyer, undated. The march was organized to protest the construction of power lines in rural Minnesota in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Used with the permission of Pope County Historical Society.

Power line over Minnesota farmland

Power line over Minnesota farmland, undated. Minnesota Powerline Oral History Project (OH 25). Oral History Collection, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul.

Anti-power-line button

Anti-power-line button made by Continental Press Inc. of St. Cloud, ca. 1975–1987.

Cover of Hold That Line newsletter

This December 1977 "Special Edition" of the Hold That Line newsletter is titled "Powerline News, Elrosa, MN." Some of its articles encourage a moratorium on construction and a "science court" evaluation; others address size of power lines and encourage continued protest. Names mentioned include Randy Fischer, John Tripp, Steffen Pederson, Rudy Perpich, and Ira Emmons. Hold That Line was the newsletter of the local movement to protest the construction of a direct-current power line across rural Minnesota by the United Power Association (UPA) and the Cooperative Power Association (CPA). The newsletter is known to have been published from August 1978 to June 1983. Used with the permission of Pope County Historical Society.

Power Line Controversy

The construction of a high-voltage power line across west-central Minnesota in the 1970s created a dispute about land use and energy needs that pitted farmers against large utilities and governmental agencies. The farmers began their opposition to the line by appearing at governmental hearings and in court proceedings. When those methods proved unsuccessful, protesters employed more confrontational methods.