ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Federal regulators are asking Utah officials to show they’d be able to pay for a contentious proposed billion-dollar Lake Powell pipeline to draw water to southwestern Utah’s growing Washington County.

The state submitted its application for the project in March 2016 and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has periodically asked for additional information. But the regulators request on Aug. 11 called for the state to provide a cost estimate and financing plan within 60 days.

Water managers say the water would be needed sometime before 2030 to keep up with population growth and new development. The proposed line is a 140-mile (225-kilometer) project that would run from the reservoir to Washington and Kane counties.

Utah Division of Water Resources spokesman Joshua Palmer expects the state to respond within the 60-day timeframe.