Caution. Spin doctors at work: Clean Line Energy has been negotiating with landowners in Iowa to acquire voluntary easements since the beginning of the year, and a “fair amount” of easements have been acquired in the state, according to Detweiler and Conley. Transmission Hub. Aug, 14, 2014 Response from someone in Iowa who really knows the score: Mr. Lightner, As a member of the Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance (iowastopricl) who has close contact with landowners from across the state of Iowa I would like to have the opportunity to talk with you regarding your article and the view from the landowners perspective. In the mean time I would encourage you to log on to Iowa Utilities Board website and read many of the 1100 plus formal objections filed against this project. As you well know this line traverses 16 counties and according to RICL they must obtain 1248 voluntary easements for eminent domain not to be used. As stated in your article, it is rare for a transmission line project not to use eminent domain for some portion of an extensive project. The true question is how much is considered too much? What percentage of the line should be allowed to be taken through the use of eminent domain - 25%, 50%, 75%? What will the landowners, the public, legislators and concerned community members tolerate? On the date that you spoke with Mr. Detweiler (August 11) approximately 10% of these voluntary easements had been secured. This clearly is not a fair amount of easements and if RICL intends to file their petition for franchise with the IUB towards the end of this year then they have alot of work to do. Convincing landowners to sign voluntary easements who are not interested in any type of payment structure AND who have over whelming concerns about the devaluation of land values, interrupted farming practices, current and future income losses and potential health effects will be a daunting and unsuccessful battle for RICL land agents. No one in this state or across the country should underestimate the power of a large group of people with a common goal. Protecting private property rights should be a concern for anyone who owns property regardless if they are impacted by the proposed RICL project of not. The state of Iowa boasts an impressive Motto that some may not remember or most likely never knew. Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain. Mr.Lightner, as a research analyst we would encourage you to research all aspects of this project. We look forward to reading such an article. Carolyn Sheridan The Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance Board President iowastopricl Oh- and in Illinois? Were only aware of the one token landowner that RICL parades around in public forums to advocate for the project, in spite of, YES having had land agents out AND handing out easement agreements.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:00:01 +0000
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