Alarm bells are ringing for the Missouri Public Service Commissioners who showed their disrespect for the people of Missouri and the awesome power of their office by napping through the Evidentiary Hearings for Grain Belt Express last week.
Apparently the only ones not caught asleep on camera by the audience were the ladies of the Commission. I might have actually excused the new lady with the tiny baby for accidentally dozing off, but not these three old crows.
This is what the impacted landowners saw when they took time away from their busy schedules to travel to Jefferson City to watch the few who hold so much power over the taking of their private property make a fair and just decision.
I've only watched the first day of the hearings so far and some of the questions I've heard make me wonder if these characters actually know anything at all about energy and transmission. Commissioner Kolkmeyer asked GBE about connecting its project to other substations between Kansas and Missouri. GBE's counsel had to condescendingly explain that GBE was direct current and could not connect except at special converter stations that are very expensive to build.
What? This is transmission 101. GBE has been before the Missouri PSC for at least a decade, and Commissioner Kolkmeyer has been a Commissioner since 2021. Has he not learned the basics yet?
And speaking of learning the basics, I see the brand new Commissioner's first day on the job was sitting on the bench at this hearing. Somehow she was nominated, confirmed and sworn in in a record 4 days, 2 of which were Saturday and Sunday. How does that happen? Why did the Governor appoint someone who has no education or experience in energy or regulation? Are PSC seats just handed out like party favors to a favored few without any expectation that the appointment is one that serves the interest of the public? Or was this new Commissioner put there just in time for GBE for a completely different reason?
I've seen a lot of corrupt state regulatory agencies in my years doing this. Congratulations, Missouri! You've made my list.
The people of Missouri deserve better than this when their homes and livelihoods are threatened by out-of-state companies seeking to take their properties in order to further corporate profits. The people of Missouri, at the very least, deserve Commissioners who can stay awake during important hearings. Impartial ones who understand the testimony and the purpose of regulation are a plus.
This is what the impacted landowners saw when they took time away from their busy schedules to travel to Jefferson City to watch the few who hold so much power over the taking of their private property make a fair and just decision.
I've only watched the first day of the hearings so far and some of the questions I've heard make me wonder if these characters actually know anything at all about energy and transmission. Commissioner Kolkmeyer asked GBE about connecting its project to other substations between Kansas and Missouri. GBE's counsel had to condescendingly explain that GBE was direct current and could not connect except at special converter stations that are very expensive to build.
What? This is transmission 101. GBE has been before the Missouri PSC for at least a decade, and Commissioner Kolkmeyer has been a Commissioner since 2021. Has he not learned the basics yet?
And speaking of learning the basics, I see the brand new Commissioner's first day on the job was sitting on the bench at this hearing. Somehow she was nominated, confirmed and sworn in in a record 4 days, 2 of which were Saturday and Sunday. How does that happen? Why did the Governor appoint someone who has no education or experience in energy or regulation? Are PSC seats just handed out like party favors to a favored few without any expectation that the appointment is one that serves the interest of the public? Or was this new Commissioner put there just in time for GBE for a completely different reason?
I've seen a lot of corrupt state regulatory agencies in my years doing this. Congratulations, Missouri! You've made my list.
The people of Missouri deserve better than this when their homes and livelihoods are threatened by out-of-state companies seeking to take their properties in order to further corporate profits. The people of Missouri, at the very least, deserve Commissioners who can stay awake during important hearings. Impartial ones who understand the testimony and the purpose of regulation are a plus.
RSS Feed