Grain Belt Express is running a "virtual" open house meeting for affected landowners in conjunction with its second round of physical open house meetings across Illinois. Some of GBE's web content might surprise you, especially if you're a affected landowner in another state who got promised all sorts of things that never materialized.
Like monopoles. For years, Clean Line Energy's Grain Belt Express promised landowners that it would use monopole structures with a smaller footprint. The Missouri PSC even approved a project that used these structures, falsely claiming that only 9 acres of land across the state would be disturbed (structure footprint only). And then Invenergy bought GBE when Clean Line went out of business and began to systematically dismantle all the pie-in-the-sky promises made to landowners because there were cheaper options.
One of the first to go were the monopoles. Invenergy says on its website that all structures will be 40 x 40 (1600 sq. ft.) 4-legged steel lattice towers. Monopoles are no longer mentioned.
Like monopoles. For years, Clean Line Energy's Grain Belt Express promised landowners that it would use monopole structures with a smaller footprint. The Missouri PSC even approved a project that used these structures, falsely claiming that only 9 acres of land across the state would be disturbed (structure footprint only). And then Invenergy bought GBE when Clean Line went out of business and began to systematically dismantle all the pie-in-the-sky promises made to landowners because there were cheaper options.
One of the first to go were the monopoles. Invenergy says on its website that all structures will be 40 x 40 (1600 sq. ft.) 4-legged steel lattice towers. Monopoles are no longer mentioned.
What do the structures look like? The structures will be lattice steel designs. The structure base will have four legs approximately 40 feet by 40 feet wide. The structures will be between 130 to 160 feet tall.
What is the footprint of the structures?
The footprint of each structure is less than 1% of the easement area. Each of the structure’s four legs will have a cylindrical cement foundation that is around 4 to 6 feet wide and about 15 feet deep. These dimensions will vary somewhat based on localized soil conditions.
But GBE's "virtual" open house says its structures could be monopoles, lattice mast, or 4-legged lattice structures. The footprint of the monopole and lattice mast structures is estimated to be 6-8 sq. ft. However, the footprint of the 4-legged lattice structure is estimated to be 27 x 46 ft. (1242 sq. ft.).
How do the structures in Illinois vary so significantly from the structures in Missouri and Kansas? The answer is that they don't. Kansas and Missouri were also promised monopoles during the permitting process, which were then switched out for the larger lattice structures after permission to build was granted. Why is that? Because lattice structures are cheaper to build and less of them are required per mile. It saves GBE money by increasing the burden on affected landowners.
What else sounds like an empty promise on GBE's virtual open house?
GBE repeats that its project will be build AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS. What? Electric transmission is not generally charged to taxpayers. Electric transmission is a strictly "beneficiary pays" enterprise. The users of the system who receive the benefit of the infrastructure are the ones who pay for it. This concept follows through on GBE's unique merchant transmission negotiated rate scheme. Under this rate mechanism, GBE would negotiate rates charged with voluntary customers who sign up to use the line. Only those customers who voluntarily sign a contract to use GBE would pay for the line. So, if nobody in Illinois is going to have to pay for it, that also means nobody in Illinois is going to get any benefit from its use. It's a flyover project causing burden in Illinois for the benefit of electric customers in other states and regions.
GBE says it will improve reliability... but reliability for whom? Not Illinois, who will not use the project. This is nothing more than political opportunism... a scheme laid bare by other claims of "energy independence." Fact: Electric grid reliability is planned and ordered by regional transmission organizations. GBE is not a regional transmission organization project and therefore is not needed for reliability reasons. Why are you being sold "reliability" you don't need?
You're also being sold "new opportunities" that don't exist.
How do the structures in Illinois vary so significantly from the structures in Missouri and Kansas? The answer is that they don't. Kansas and Missouri were also promised monopoles during the permitting process, which were then switched out for the larger lattice structures after permission to build was granted. Why is that? Because lattice structures are cheaper to build and less of them are required per mile. It saves GBE money by increasing the burden on affected landowners.
What else sounds like an empty promise on GBE's virtual open house?
GBE repeats that its project will be build AT NO COST TO TAXPAYERS. What? Electric transmission is not generally charged to taxpayers. Electric transmission is a strictly "beneficiary pays" enterprise. The users of the system who receive the benefit of the infrastructure are the ones who pay for it. This concept follows through on GBE's unique merchant transmission negotiated rate scheme. Under this rate mechanism, GBE would negotiate rates charged with voluntary customers who sign up to use the line. Only those customers who voluntarily sign a contract to use GBE would pay for the line. So, if nobody in Illinois is going to have to pay for it, that also means nobody in Illinois is going to get any benefit from its use. It's a flyover project causing burden in Illinois for the benefit of electric customers in other states and regions.
GBE says it will improve reliability... but reliability for whom? Not Illinois, who will not use the project. This is nothing more than political opportunism... a scheme laid bare by other claims of "energy independence." Fact: Electric grid reliability is planned and ordered by regional transmission organizations. GBE is not a regional transmission organization project and therefore is not needed for reliability reasons. Why are you being sold "reliability" you don't need?
You're also being sold "new opportunities" that don't exist.
...providing new opportunities to local communities along the route
Fact: GBE is a high-voltage direct current line. Our electric grid is alternating current. Direct current must be converted into alternating current before it can be connected to the electric grid. Converter stations are hugely expensive and may only be located at the beginning of the line and the end of the line. Therefore, there is no way any locality along the line could use the electricity passing through. So, where's the "opportunity?" The "opportunity" to be paid a pittance for the use of your land for the benefit of others and in a way that makes the transmission project owner very, very, very, very, very, very rich. Not such a great opportunity after all.
GBE pretends that is is being responsive to landowner concerns and is designing its route accordingly. It says it learned the following things at the Round 1 meetings last month:
But yet it hasn't adjusted its routes at all for Round 2. And I'm pretty sure GBE "heard" suggestions that it should route its project buried along a major interstate highway instead of across private property during the Round 1 meetings. But obviously, GBE didn't listen. GBE only heard what it wanted to hear, not what was actually said. Why are there no underground and/or public right of way routing options? When will these options be developed? Will they be developed?
GBE prattles on about jobs, jobs, jobs. It's the same computer program-generated hogwash every transmission project uses to pretend its an "opportunity" for rural areas. Fact: Most jobs are specialized and workers who perform them are hired from just a handful of specialized companies who bring workers onsite from other states. There are few jobs for local workers. In addition, GBE will contract for materials and supplies from the cheapest source. They don't care if that supplier is local or not. But, like all transmission projects, GBE pretends it is going to use local workers and supplies "as much as possible." It's an open-ended, empty promise.
GBE is paying 110% of the market value of easements. That's 110% of GBE's calculated market value of your land, which may not agree with an independent appraiser's value. There's no review of this value, GBE simply wants you to trust their valuation of your property. That's like the fox guarding the hen house! When (IF!) you sign an easement, GBE will pay you 20% of the amount you are entitled to. Wait... what? GBE strikes a deal to pay you a certain sum and then only pays you 20% of that? Have you ever tried to buy real estate by only paying for 20% of it? Promises to pay the balance later are open-ended and maybe empty. When will you be paid? Is that written in the contract with a firm date? How long should you have to wait to get the full purchase price when GBE gets full access to your land once you sign? Can your contract be written so that you receive full payment on signing?
And take note that there is absolutely no mention whatsoever of Clean Line Energy's structure payments.
GBE pretends that is is being responsive to landowner concerns and is designing its route accordingly. It says it learned the following things at the Round 1 meetings last month:
- Proximity to homes
- Farm operation impacts, including irrigation and spraying
- Construction impacts including on crop yields and drain tile
- Hunting/recreation
- Planned/platted development
But yet it hasn't adjusted its routes at all for Round 2. And I'm pretty sure GBE "heard" suggestions that it should route its project buried along a major interstate highway instead of across private property during the Round 1 meetings. But obviously, GBE didn't listen. GBE only heard what it wanted to hear, not what was actually said. Why are there no underground and/or public right of way routing options? When will these options be developed? Will they be developed?
GBE prattles on about jobs, jobs, jobs. It's the same computer program-generated hogwash every transmission project uses to pretend its an "opportunity" for rural areas. Fact: Most jobs are specialized and workers who perform them are hired from just a handful of specialized companies who bring workers onsite from other states. There are few jobs for local workers. In addition, GBE will contract for materials and supplies from the cheapest source. They don't care if that supplier is local or not. But, like all transmission projects, GBE pretends it is going to use local workers and supplies "as much as possible." It's an open-ended, empty promise.
GBE is paying 110% of the market value of easements. That's 110% of GBE's calculated market value of your land, which may not agree with an independent appraiser's value. There's no review of this value, GBE simply wants you to trust their valuation of your property. That's like the fox guarding the hen house! When (IF!) you sign an easement, GBE will pay you 20% of the amount you are entitled to. Wait... what? GBE strikes a deal to pay you a certain sum and then only pays you 20% of that? Have you ever tried to buy real estate by only paying for 20% of it? Promises to pay the balance later are open-ended and maybe empty. When will you be paid? Is that written in the contract with a firm date? How long should you have to wait to get the full purchase price when GBE gets full access to your land once you sign? Can your contract be written so that you receive full payment on signing?
And take note that there is absolutely no mention whatsoever of Clean Line Energy's structure payments.
Structure Payments In addition to easement payments, you will be compensated for any structures on your property. You can elect an upfront, lump sum payment of $18,000 per structure, or receive annual payments starting at $1,500 per-structure in Year 1 and escalating at 2% each year as long as the structures are on your property.
Looks like Illinois landowners are not getting these payments that were promised to landowners in Missouri and Kansas. After all, why try to butter up the landowners when the crooked and compromised Illinois legislature has passed an unconstitutional law written for Invenergy's benefit that grants it eminent domain in each county? GBE doesn't have to fairly compensate landowners, so why bother?
But is this whole project nothing but one giant empty promise? A merchant transmission project must have contracted customers to pay for its construction before it builds anything. Try asking GBE who its customers are... GBE has no customers other than a small group of Missouri municipalities who signed up for a measley 5% of the project's capacity at a bargain price. That won't pay to construct the project. Ask GBE if they will be posting a bond before beginning construction on a project with no paying customers?
So much complete and utter baloney. P.T. Barnum would be proud. Is he going to be at your Round 2 Open House meetings? Or just his spirit?
But is this whole project nothing but one giant empty promise? A merchant transmission project must have contracted customers to pay for its construction before it builds anything. Try asking GBE who its customers are... GBE has no customers other than a small group of Missouri municipalities who signed up for a measley 5% of the project's capacity at a bargain price. That won't pay to construct the project. Ask GBE if they will be posting a bond before beginning construction on a project with no paying customers?
So much complete and utter baloney. P.T. Barnum would be proud. Is he going to be at your Round 2 Open House meetings? Or just his spirit?
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