Congress Launches Investigation Of DOE's Clean Line Decision

4/2/2016

The honeymoon is over!

Senator John Boozeman has announced an investigation:

I have asked legal experts and Congressional investigators to carefully review the Department’s decision. We are studying several related documents released by the Department, including the 22-page "Record of Decision" on the environmental review, a 73- page “Summary of Findings,” and a 210-page “Participation Agreement” between the Department of Energy and Clean Line. We will also require the Department to answer a series of questions related to its decision and provide all related documents and evidence.

Boozeman also reiterated his intention to pass legislation to limit the DOE's authority on Section 1222:

Last year, in an effort to clarify the law and restore rights to Arkansans, I introduced the Assuring Private Property Rights Over Vast Access to Land (APPROVAL) Act. Congressman Steve Womack (AR-03) introduced the same bill in the House. The legislation is supported by the entire Arkansas delegation. In October, Congressman Womack and I highlighted the need for this legislation during a House Committee on Natural Resources hearing. Our bill would make it crystal clear that these kinds of projects must receive state approval.

Senator Boozeman has pledged to take measures to stop DOE's overreach.

Thankfully, the Obama Administration’s plan for this power line still faces hurdles. This is not a done deal. The Department must be able to legally defend its decision, and there are big gaps between what the law requires and the decision the Department reached. The plan also faces strong opposition by many in Congress.

It's not a done deal. Read more here!

4 Comments

Andrea Rackmyer

4/3/2016 10:17:26 am

I hope that all of you will be doing everything possible to protect your constituents against eminent domain for private gain. Clean Lines partnership with the DOE (announced on Good Friday while everyone else was getting ready to enjoy family and friends for the Easter holiday) which gives ARKANSAS, OKLAHOMA AND TENNESSEE constituents NO VOTE on eminent domain for private gain. Raises some concerns for every citizen in those states. It is ludicrous that Jimmy Glotfelty can establish an industry as the original director of the DOE Transmission office, deregulate the industry to suit his needs and those of ENRON’s Jeffrey Skilling and Ken Lay all while he was vested with oversight TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS from companies like ENRON and their accountant Arthur Anderson….that allowed (by turning a blind eye) the free fall of our economy....then move to the private sector to profit from that same industry under laws established by himself and his boss's administration. Then use the same department he helped to establish to partner with and steal people's property through an illegal land grab. Nothing like the DOE thumbing it’s nose at constituents and throwing them under the “CLEAN” LINE BUS. This is conflict of interest and illegal. Not to mention the undue influence of all the agencies and boards Clean Line members are associated with....Wind on the Wires....AWEA....just to name a couple. We have found dozens of such agencies that they are members of being used to endorse their projects all over this country. The Southern States Energy Board.... Clean Line and CO2 Capture are members. Shall I go on? Or are you doing the same digging we citizens are because we will be exposing every incidence of corruption associated with CLEAN LINE. And if we have to drag out more of ENRON’s dirty laundry…we will do so. Clean Line is infested with ex ENRON personnel and still has all the same ties to Big Banks that brought our country to it’s knees. Perhaps we don’t care that Clean Line is nothing more than an energy broker….is set up with the same strategies as ENRON…..AND IS NOTHING MORE THAN AN ENRON CLONE. Thank you for your time.

Joel Dyer

4/4/2016 11:09:44 am

"I have asked legal experts and Congressional investigators to carefully review the Department's decision." The doesn't sound like a Senate Energy Committee investigation with Moniz and his minions testifying under oath. I doubt that this "investigation" will have any more teeth than the Approval Act, which will never be enacted, or the delegation's letter, which Moniz blew off.

Only time will tell if Senator Boozman's investigation has any teeth. I kind of doubt it, but I might be wrong. I hope I am. The problem is that I just don't trust Boozman. Over two years ago, I tried and tried to get him involved in this fight. I sent emails and letters, and encouraged others to do so. I talked several times on the phone with one of his staffers. Up until about a year ago, Boozman and his staff were indifferent. In fact, the staffer I talked to sounded more like a Clean Line employee than a public servant. Then, about a year ago, Boozman decided to take an interest in the Clean Line land grab. Oddly enough, than was just about the time that a couple of guys decided to run against Boozman in 2016.

Eric Morris

4/7/2016 07:33:04 am

Whitewash with a side of cover-up.

Andrea Rackmyuer

4/8/2016 02:32:52 pm

Ernest Moniz has a history of ignoring scofflaw behavior and subversion of federal law in his own department. Seems the DOE has a "look the other way" policy for anyone who might grease their palms. We'll be looking into his activities as well as any underlings along the way. There is nothing about the DOE to be trusted. It has a long history of corruption with Jimmy Glotfelty at the helm. Enron helped bring our country to it's knees. For Jimmy Glotfelty to brag that Ken Lay almost always had it right when opening markets......obviously he has nothing in his conscience for the taxpayers or the people whose retirements were stolen from PGE or ENRON.

Congress Launches Investigation Of DOE's Clean Line Decision

Leave a Reply.

About the Author

About
StopPATH Blog

Need help opposing unneeded transmission?
Email me

Archives

Categories

Congress Launches Investigation Of DOE's Clean Line Decision

Leave a Reply.

About the Author

AboutStopPATH Blog

Need help opposing unneeded transmission?Email me

Archives

Categories

About
StopPATH Blog

Need help opposing unneeded transmission?
Email me