Landowners Look to Challenge Route Section of Ameren Three Rivers Project

 Despite the August 20 ruling from the ICC approving a majority of the Ameren Three Rivers Project–a 330 mile transmission line that will traverse much of central Illinois–landowners are set to ask the ICC for a rehearing on the matter.

“There’s a shorter route that would cost $36.8 million less than the route Ameren selected,” Morgan County land owner Steve Rhea said. “And I think we should be looking at the cost as opposed to just where we’re at right now.”

Rhea is concerned about the route the proposed 345 kilovolt line would cut through his fields, and what the impact would be on the farm ground and his operation.

“It is a permanent structure that will be put on your land,” Rhea said. “That would affect anyone. But we’ve made substantial investments in tiling and improvements there. The other thing we cannot do is have aerial application of insecticide and fungicide going forward in the future as we have in the past, so it’s going to change the way we farm.”

He’s part of a group asking the Illinois Commerce Commission to reconsider the route.

Landowners have until today to ask the ICC for a rehearing on the August 20 decision.

If you think you may be affected by the lliana Expressway and/or are interested in a free consultation, contact our eminent domain landowner attorneys at 1-888-318-3761 or visit us on the web at https://landownerattorneys.com/.