Rock Island Clean Line not done deal
1/24/2013 | newstrib.com
Recently Francis from Wheatland wrote the Quad City Times in frustration that Iowa was allowing the private company Rock Island Clean Line to seize his farmland through eminent domain. His editorial drew comments through the paper’s blog and it was evident there is misunderstanding.
This is not an issue of one man’s inability to cope with progress as some commenter’s eluded. Francis, I agree it is not fair to you or to the unfortunate people who will see the value of their homes and businesses depreciated by being neighbors to huge structures carrying 3 times the power of Hoover Dam. This project isn’t beneficial to the public. It is the scheme of investors to make money. The company calls itself “Clean Line” but would also carry electricity generated by backup power stations (coal, nuclear, natural gas) not just wind. This project is offering landowners contracts that give Rock Island Clean Line easements for perpetuity. The contracts don’t limit the easements to this one transmission project making many wonder why they are wanting easements across Iowa and Illinois for perpetuity. This is a private company owned by out of state investors hiding behind the “Clean Energy” curtain.
RICL plans to build a “bridge to nowhere.” RICL says after the transmission line is completed they will build a hundred square mile utility wind farm to transmit electricity to the east coast. 10 east coast governors have already said they don’t want the expensive western power. What happens if federal wind energy subsidies money ends?
Francis, don’t lose hope. Go to the website www.BlockRICL.com. to learn more. Together we can make our voices heard. Iowa has not granted RICL the right to eminent domain and the Illinois Commerce Commission is just starting hearings to address RICL’s request to be considered a “public utility” docket number 12-0560. It’s the strategy of RICL to make landowners feel helpless. This is not a done deal as RICL would like people to believe.
I invite you to join our large and growing grassroots organization, Block RICL. You aren’t alone. All across Illinois and Iowa people are forming groups to intervene and ask the ICC to join the National trend and study ALL proposed transmission line projects to come up with a way to deal with them that truly is in the best interest of the people.
Susan Sack Block,
RICL volunteer, Mendota
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/25/rock-island-clean-line-not-done-deal/