If the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission agrees with two Minnesota administrative law judges’ recommendations for the Big Stone II transmission line project, five utilities would need to look at short-term solutions to fill the transmission needs, a Marshall Municipal Utilities official said Wednesday.

On Friday, two Minnesota administrative law judges recommended denying a permit for the construction of transmission lines as part of the Big Stone II coal burning plant proposed by five energy utility services. The plant would be located in northeastern South Dakota. The power lines would carry electricity from the plant to customers.

MMU has a contract with Missouri River Energy Services, one of the five groups proposing the 500-580 megawatt coal burning power plant near the Minnesota-South Dakota border.