A Missouri Public Service Commission staff report found that while CLEP demonstrated abilities to finance and build the project, it had not “established the need.” That is the basis of the opposing commissioners’ decision.
The need is economic, according to CLEP CEO Michael Skelley. The estimated price of wind-generated electricity from Kansas delivered to PJM or to the MISO is estimated at $0.045 per kWh or less, including the cost of the electricity and transmission fees. That is expected to be competitive with the projected $0.057 per kWh electricity price in those markets and bring big economic returns to Missouri.
Because the line would cross 724 tracts of Missouri land, hundreds of landowner-members of the Block Grain Belt Express group celebrated the PSC announcement.
Grain Belt Express “does not merit certification” because neither its purpose nor its potential benefits to Missourians “justify the authorization to exercise eminent domain power,” asserted the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Full story here.
If you think you may be affected by the Grain Belt Project 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 www.landownerattorneys.com.
Photo: Trabish, H (photographer). (2015). Retrieved From: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/missouri-regulators-indicate-they-will-reject-grain-belt-express-transmissi/400205/
