The same day that the Illinois Commerce Commission denied rehearing of its Order issuing a permit to Grain Belt Express, the Illinois Farm Bureau and grassroots group Concerned Citizens and Property Owners filed appeals with the Illinois Fifth District Appellate Court.
Grain Belt Express pretended that the ICC's denial to rehear the case "strengthens our ability to move the Grain Belt Express clean line project forward." Huh? The ink wasn't even dry before appeals were filed that will tie the project up in court for months, or years. But it seems that the media wasn't fooled by Clean Line's press release puffery and coverage was balanced.
But the media missed a couple of important points.
The ICC vote on the rehearing was split into several distinct topics. On the topic of whether to grant rehearing on Grain Belt's public utility status, it remained 3-2, with the two dissenting Commissioners holding firm in their belief that GBE is not a public utility entitled to file under the expedited process reserved for public utilities. This "strengthens the opposition's ability to move their appeal forward." ;-)
It was also enlightening to see what the ICC did with GBE's Request for Rehearing. While the Commission altered some language to include the 345kV lines between the converter station and the substation in the permit, it declined to alter language saying that GBE was not needed, “The Commission finds that GBX has not demonstrated that the Project is needed to provide adequate, reliable, and efficient service to customers within the meaning of Section 8-406.1” (Order at 125). Have fun with that, Clean Line!
So what does the ICC's denial of rehearing really mean? "Case Status - Appeal - Court Action Pending."
Looks like the Grain Belt Express is still stuck at the station and not moving anywhere.
Grain Belt Express pretended that the ICC's denial to rehear the case "strengthens our ability to move the Grain Belt Express clean line project forward." Huh? The ink wasn't even dry before appeals were filed that will tie the project up in court for months, or years. But it seems that the media wasn't fooled by Clean Line's press release puffery and coverage was balanced.
But the media missed a couple of important points.
The ICC vote on the rehearing was split into several distinct topics. On the topic of whether to grant rehearing on Grain Belt's public utility status, it remained 3-2, with the two dissenting Commissioners holding firm in their belief that GBE is not a public utility entitled to file under the expedited process reserved for public utilities. This "strengthens the opposition's ability to move their appeal forward." ;-)
It was also enlightening to see what the ICC did with GBE's Request for Rehearing. While the Commission altered some language to include the 345kV lines between the converter station and the substation in the permit, it declined to alter language saying that GBE was not needed, “The Commission finds that GBX has not demonstrated that the Project is needed to provide adequate, reliable, and efficient service to customers within the meaning of Section 8-406.1” (Order at 125). Have fun with that, Clean Line!
So what does the ICC's denial of rehearing really mean? "Case Status - Appeal - Court Action Pending."
Looks like the Grain Belt Express is still stuck at the station and not moving anywhere.
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