Dear Governor Parson:
As a farmer and a Commodity Trader for one of the largest Grain Companies in Missouri and the world, I am writing today in opposition of Grain Belt Express as the proposed route will be crossing my family’s University of Missouri Extension Century Farm in Monroe County. I am adamantly opposed to a private for-profit company applying to Missouri Public Service Commission for a Convenience and Necessity Certificate that if approved would give the authority of Eminent Domain.
On the coldest days of February 2015, our Missouri utility companies were selling excess power to PJM grid and making over million dollars a day. That money was coming back to Missouri utility companies, workers and citizens as the cooperatives could pass along profits (patronage payments) to members. If merchant lines are allowed to cross our state, they will bring little benefit to Missouri in the way of power or full time jobs. We are basically as the saying goes “cutting off our nose to spite our face”. If these transmission lines were allowed, we would be taking money right out of our local utility companies and Missouri citizens’ hands and putting it in the pockets of few business owners in other states or countries.
This is big business and I doubt Grain Belt (Invenergy) will leave any extra money or savings on the table for the residents of Missouri. As mentioned, I’m a commodity trader for one of the largest Grain Companies in Missouri and in the world. Electricity is a commodity that is traded basically like any other commodity in the world. The first thing my company teaches every new commodity trader on the first day of the job is simple……“Always control the freight, then you always have the leverage”. Grain Belt Express (Invenergy) is trying to gain utility status in Missouri, even though they are not a producer or a seller of electricity. Grain Belt would only be the freight haulers. I see no benefit for Missouri or United States in this proposed project. As far as the “jobs created,” I see no long term employment.
This project is not the long term solution for our State. People will not be attracted to move or reside in a county with the highest voltage transmission line in the United States. I have asked myself many times if I would want to be part of a legacy that stood by and let the highest voltage transmission line in the history of the United States be erected and forced my neighbors, life-long friends and fellow Missourians to move from their homes and devalue their property so a private company can profit?
Please help to protect property rights, utility companies, and workers of Missouri by doing what is within your ability to stop the abuses of eminent domain for merchant transmission companies, and keep agriculture in Missouri for future generations.
Respectfully,
Jay O’Bannon
Want to send your own letter to the Governor? Missouri Rep. Jim Hansen is collecting them and promises to hand-deliver your letters to the Governor.
Send yours here:
Rep. Hansen’s e-mail address:jim.hansen@house.mo.gov
Mailing address: State Capitol, 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 111, Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806
Send yours here:
Rep. Hansen’s e-mail address:jim.hansen@house.mo.gov
Mailing address: State Capitol, 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 111, Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806
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