March 2, 2018
Missouri

Opposition renews fight against wind project

By Ray Scherer, News-Press Now | St. Joseph News-Press | Mar 1, 2018 | www.newspressnow.com

An organization opposed to plans for building a wind-driven electric transmission network through the region pledges to continue lobbying against the project.

Despite a setback in court action on Tuesday, Block Grain Belt Express says it intends to pursue a favorable ruling from the Missouri Supreme Court in its bid to derail the project.

The Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District sent the case involving Grain Belt Express’ attempt to secure state permission for the network to the state’s high court. The 780-mile wind energy line has been stalled since 2017, after the Missouri Public Service Commission said that all counties along the path, including Buchanan, Clinton and Caldwell, must agree to its construction.

A statement from Block Grain Belt Express expressed disappointment in the appeals court decision but said the organization already is preparing to participate in the next round of legal activity.

“We are grateful that the court also transferred the case,” said spokeswoman Jennifer Gatrel. “Had it not done so, we would have had to ask the Supreme Court to take the case, which they may or may not have agreed to do.”

Gatrel added the appeals court did not rule that Houston-based Clean Line Energy isn’t required to obtain permission from each county commission along the proposed Grain Belt path.

“It simply said that the PSC may approve the line before those county consents are obtained by Grain Belt,” she said.

For its part, Clean Line hailed the appeals court decision as assisting with its endeavor to build the $2.3 billion overhead line, whose genesis would be a series of wind turbines in western Kansas.

The Missouri Landowners Alliance also opposes the transmission line.

Opponents have decried Grain Belt on the basis of such issues as its perceived consequences to human and livestock health and potential for despoiling the rural landscape.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/03/02/opposition-renews-fight-against-wind-project/