"A Significant and Unwarranted Intrusion"

Just one more post about Requests for Rehearing of the Illinois Commission's issuance of a conditional permit for the Rock Island Clean Line.

The Illinois Landowners Alliance not only reiterates the arguments put forth by ComEd and the Illinois Farm Bureau, but adds a stylish lambasting of the Commission for permitting "a significant and unwarranted intrusion upon landowners."

ILA’s witnesses and its many other members have expressed repeatedly their uniform opposition to the Project, routing and treatment of landowners and their concerns. The Order’s granting of a CPCN to Rock Island will permit Rock Island to force its way onto landowner property to “make land surveys and land use studies” (220 ILCS 5/8-510), a significant and unwarranted intrusion upon affected landowners for a project that is so speculative and tenuous.

Although the ICC significantly conditioned RICL's permit before any actual construction begins, and denied them eminent domain authority at this time, the ICC also allowed RICL immediate access to private property to conduct its "surveys."

It's a powder keg.  Let's hope it doesn't explode before the ICC reconsiders its misguided decision to order the trespassing and destruction of private property by a company with no financial assets.  The landowners don't seem to have changed their opinion about RICL and probably aren't going to welcome them to their properties with open arms and a forgiving attitude.  I hope the ICC thinks this though...