MO House to Vote Tuesday on Grain Belt-Related Legislation

The Missouri House is expected to vote Tuesday on Grain Belt-related legislation.

Republican State Representative Jim Hansen filed legislation which says no private entity has the power of eminent domain for the purposes of building above-ground lines. Eminent domain involves the power of the government to take private property and convert it to public use.

A rally is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the Statehouse in support of his bill.

The House General Laws Committee approved Hansen’s bill by a 9-4 vote.

Hansen’s House Bill 1062 moved quickly through the process after it was introduced in February, in response to the Grain Belt Express Clean Line project in northern Missouri.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) announced in March that it has approved Grain Belt’s request to construct, own, operate and manage a high-voltage transmission line through eight northern Missouri counties.The PSC granted Grain Belt what is known as a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN), determining that there is a need for the service. The PSC also determined that Grain Belt’s proposal is economically feasible and that the service promotes the public interest.

Bill supporters include the Missouri Farm Bureau. Supporters of the bill say less than 12 percent of the Grain Belt’s electricity will be sold to Missouri consumers.

Bill opponents include city officials in Rolla and Lebanon. Opponents of the bill say about 500 megawatts of power will be sold to Missouri municipal utilities under the project and generate millions of dollars in immediate tax revenue.