PPL Asks US Supreme Court to Hear Dams Case

PPL Montana is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the state of Montana from seizing ownership of riverbeds and forcing rent payments, arguing other states may copy the move. PPL Montana is fighting for relief from a state Supreme Court decision forcing it to pay $40 million in current rent, as well as damages for not paying rent for land its dams sit on from 2000 through 2007, plus even more in future rent. The court decision means the land under the dams is like other public land that is rented out, such as to those who graze cattle or drill for oil. PPL Montana said the state overstepped its authority and asked the nation's high court Thursday to intervene in the case. PPL said the state's high court was wrong in claiming Montana ownership over 500 miles of riverbeds under multiple hydropower facilities...more