First there was Illinois. Then there was Iowa. Then there were Kansas and Missouri, soon followed by Arkansas and Oklahoma, and a different part of Illinois. The opposition to Clean Line Energy Partners projects grew organically over several years until three of its five projects were fiercely opposed by landowners along the route, dug in for the long haul. We kept waiting to be joined by landowner opposition to the other two Clean Line projects, Centennial West and Western Spirit. But those two Clean Line projects never seemed to get off the ground, and affected landowners remained blissfully unaware.
Until now.
Until now.
Remember last month when Michael Skelly claimed Pattern was using a "new model" to develop Western Spirit? Looks like the same old model to me.
Merchant transmission project of little necessity designs route through the farms of local residents without their input or knowledge. Opposition is born.
It's not about the owner, it's about the "model." Nobody wants a transmission line encroaching on their home or business, and even less so for a "clean" transmission line whose only purpose is to transmit "clean" energy to replace the totally adequate energy currently powering some far away city. There's no benefit for the landowners. Easement payments are an attempt to compensate landowners for land rights taken from them. It's not a financial windfall for the landowner.
But can companies other than the failed Clean Line Energy Partners actually build these kinds of projects? My money is on "NO." Long-distance transmission for renewables is a non-starter.
Fight on, folks, fight on.
Merchant transmission project of little necessity designs route through the farms of local residents without their input or knowledge. Opposition is born.
It's not about the owner, it's about the "model." Nobody wants a transmission line encroaching on their home or business, and even less so for a "clean" transmission line whose only purpose is to transmit "clean" energy to replace the totally adequate energy currently powering some far away city. There's no benefit for the landowners. Easement payments are an attempt to compensate landowners for land rights taken from them. It's not a financial windfall for the landowner.
But can companies other than the failed Clean Line Energy Partners actually build these kinds of projects? My money is on "NO." Long-distance transmission for renewables is a non-starter.
Fight on, folks, fight on.
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