Was it just last month that Invenergy told the Missouri legislature that it wasn't fair to change state law if it hurt their project? Well, guess what? Invenergy is busy trying to change state law in Illinois to help Grain Belt Express by allowing it to become a public utility so it may use eminent domain to site the project across Illinois. Hypocrisy at its finest!
As many of you may remember, the Illinois courts vacated Grain Belt's permit (and eminent domain authority) several years ago because Grain Belt Express did not own any utility property in the state. Because it did not own utility property, it was not a public utility, and because it wasn't a public utility it was not allowed to use eminent domain to acquire easements across private property. Clean Line was unsuccessful in overturning this decision.
However, Invenergy is attempting to change the law upon which the court's decision was based. As part of an extensive new energy bill in Illinois, the following language changes have been proposed to the statute.
As many of you may remember, the Illinois courts vacated Grain Belt's permit (and eminent domain authority) several years ago because Grain Belt Express did not own any utility property in the state. Because it did not own utility property, it was not a public utility, and because it wasn't a public utility it was not allowed to use eminent domain to acquire easements across private property. Clean Line was unsuccessful in overturning this decision.
However, Invenergy is attempting to change the law upon which the court's decision was based. As part of an extensive new energy bill in Illinois, the following language changes have been proposed to the statute.
By changing the definition of public utility, Invenergy could be be a public utility now, if it only intends to own property later. It merely has to apply at the ICC and receive a permit. Our private property rights are under attack all across the Midwest by greedy merchant transmission developers who want to use your private property to make money on speculative renewable energy projects.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says utilities did not write this energy bill.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says utilities did not write this energy bill.
Pritzker, who vowed in the wake of the ComEd scandal that utilities and energy companies would no longer write the state’s energy policy, declined to comment on the specifics of his offer, saying that negotiators were “still working on the bill.”
“Utilities did not write the bill that we have worked on. That is clear,” Pritzker said. “We have done everything that we can to stand up for clean energy principles, to make sure that we’re expanding renewables in the state. I have set out the principles, I have stuck to those principles, and so my hope is that we’ll end up with a good energy bill.”
So, we're supposed to believe that Invenergy did not have its thumb on this rather opportune language change? Illinois is still reeling from a recent utility scandal where ComEd exerted undue influence on the state legislature. It sure looks to me like Illinois has simply traded one utility master for another. Instead of the legislature being under ComEd's thumb, now it's under Invenergy's thumb.
Something sure stinks in Springfield!
Invenergy wants to take the most profitable route for GBE, and that's using eminent domain to take private property across three states. It doesn't want to fairly negotiate with landowners without the sledgehammer of eminent domain. Here's another news flash: eminent domain is not necessary to build merchant transmission! When eminent domain for overhead merchant transmission was outlawed in Iowa several years ago, a better project emerged. SOO Green Renewable Rail is developing a merchant transmission project buried its entire length on existing railroad rights of way. No eminent domain! No changing state law, no sacrifice from landowners. It's a complete no-brainer! Maybe Invenergy should make a better project instead of using its influence to manipulate state law for its own benefit?
Fortunately, the Illinois energy bill did not pass before the legislative session ended, however, there's talk that it may come to a vote in a few days, or maybe this month, or next month, nobody is really sure and reports change day by day. If it does come to a vote, the public utility definition change needs to be stripped out. Let Illinois legislators know!
Does Invenergy's legislative hypocrisy stick in your craw? Want to do something about it? Well, you can! It's quick and easy, and probably extremely satisfying as well! You don't have to be an Illinois resident to contact Illinois legislators. The bigger the voice, the more impact it has! For complete instructions on who to call or write, visit BlockRICL or send an email to [email protected].
Invenergy wants to take the most profitable route for GBE, and that's using eminent domain to take private property across three states. It doesn't want to fairly negotiate with landowners without the sledgehammer of eminent domain. Here's another news flash: eminent domain is not necessary to build merchant transmission! When eminent domain for overhead merchant transmission was outlawed in Iowa several years ago, a better project emerged. SOO Green Renewable Rail is developing a merchant transmission project buried its entire length on existing railroad rights of way. No eminent domain! No changing state law, no sacrifice from landowners. It's a complete no-brainer! Maybe Invenergy should make a better project instead of using its influence to manipulate state law for its own benefit?
Fortunately, the Illinois energy bill did not pass before the legislative session ended, however, there's talk that it may come to a vote in a few days, or maybe this month, or next month, nobody is really sure and reports change day by day. If it does come to a vote, the public utility definition change needs to be stripped out. Let Illinois legislators know!
Does Invenergy's legislative hypocrisy stick in your craw? Want to do something about it? Well, you can! It's quick and easy, and probably extremely satisfying as well! You don't have to be an Illinois resident to contact Illinois legislators. The bigger the voice, the more impact it has! For complete instructions on who to call or write, visit BlockRICL or send an email to [email protected].
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