Construction of bridges and other infrastructure over western rivers would be more difficult if the U.S. Supreme Court decides in favor of hydroelectric powerplant owner and operator PPL Montana in the company's case against the state of Montana, the state's attorney, Gregory Garre, told the justices on Dec. 7, during oral arguments in the case.
On the other hand, if the court rules for the state, about 1,000 existing dams on U.S. rivers, including some dams that have been operating for more than a century, could be subject to back rent, PPL allies contended in briefs filed earlier.