The Missouri Landowners Alliance and Block Grain Belt Express are optimistic that the Public Service Commission must again deny Grain Belt’s application, in the wake of a Missouri Supreme Court decision yesterday. The Court denied a petition to review an opinion of the Western District Court of Appeals regarding county commission assent for new transmission lines to cross local roadways. The case, Neighbors United Against Ameren’s Power Line vs. Public Service Commission of Missouri and Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois, earlier this year vacated a conditional permit for Ameren’s Mark Twain Transmission Project that was issued by the PSC before Ameren had received the assent of counties crossed by the project.
Earlier this month, Grain Belt Express, and other supportive parties, had urged the PSC to issue a decision on its transmission line application after the Commission discussed putting the case on hold until the Ameren matter was cleared up by the courts. Grain Belt Express, like Ameren, has not produced county assents from the eight Missouri counties it proposed to cross. The Court of Appeals made it clear that county assent must be submitted to the PSC before a certificate of convenience and necessity may be issued. Without Supreme Court review, the Appeals Court decision is final.
“We celebrate with Neighbors United for their incredible victory for property rights. We would also like to thank all the County Commissioners who have stood with us in our battle for our way of life and against eminent domain abuse,” commented Jennifer Gatrel, spokesperson for Block Grain Belt Express-Missouri.
The citizens’ groups hope the PSC will now quickly proceed to dispose of the Grain Belt Express matter, allowing the people to resume their work and plans for the future, albeit a little lighter in the pockets than before the threat of Grain Belt Express reared its head. The three landowner’s organizations say they have spent approximately $350,000 altogether defending private property rights from the speculative transmission project.
Russ Pisciotta, President of Block Grain Belt Express-Missouri said, “The people impacted by the proposed line have repeatedly spoken out loudly and clearly against the ill-conceived, unnecessary interstate transmission line and now we are watching democracy in action and the system is working.”
Grain Belt Express had initially obtained assents from all eight counties before notifying landowners about its project, however, Caldwell County’s assent was later overturned in court because it violated the sunshine law. Five of the eight counties have also since rescinded their assents, and county commissions have remained steadfastly on the side of local property owners.
“I am very glad that the Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the Appeals Court Decision. This decision gives the County Commissions in our State the right to guard our communities and way of life,” said Wiley Hibbard, Ralls County Presiding Commissioner.
Earlier this month, Grain Belt Express, and other supportive parties, had urged the PSC to issue a decision on its transmission line application after the Commission discussed putting the case on hold until the Ameren matter was cleared up by the courts. Grain Belt Express, like Ameren, has not produced county assents from the eight Missouri counties it proposed to cross. The Court of Appeals made it clear that county assent must be submitted to the PSC before a certificate of convenience and necessity may be issued. Without Supreme Court review, the Appeals Court decision is final.
“We celebrate with Neighbors United for their incredible victory for property rights. We would also like to thank all the County Commissioners who have stood with us in our battle for our way of life and against eminent domain abuse,” commented Jennifer Gatrel, spokesperson for Block Grain Belt Express-Missouri.
The citizens’ groups hope the PSC will now quickly proceed to dispose of the Grain Belt Express matter, allowing the people to resume their work and plans for the future, albeit a little lighter in the pockets than before the threat of Grain Belt Express reared its head. The three landowner’s organizations say they have spent approximately $350,000 altogether defending private property rights from the speculative transmission project.
Russ Pisciotta, President of Block Grain Belt Express-Missouri said, “The people impacted by the proposed line have repeatedly spoken out loudly and clearly against the ill-conceived, unnecessary interstate transmission line and now we are watching democracy in action and the system is working.”
Grain Belt Express had initially obtained assents from all eight counties before notifying landowners about its project, however, Caldwell County’s assent was later overturned in court because it violated the sunshine law. Five of the eight counties have also since rescinded their assents, and county commissions have remained steadfastly on the side of local property owners.
“I am very glad that the Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the Appeals Court Decision. This decision gives the County Commissions in our State the right to guard our communities and way of life,” said Wiley Hibbard, Ralls County Presiding Commissioner.
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