Contacting Representatives and Senators is critical right now.
Legislative action is taking place NOW!
Call, Email or Write y
our Legislator and other legislators from all areas of the state. Ask them to support the bills that have been introduced in both the House and Senate that will help protect Iowa landowners.
Representatives: Refer specifically to HF 620
Senators: Refer specifically to SSB 1276
HF 620 and SSB 1276 both do the following:
- Require the IUB to find that a proposed electric transmission line is necessary for a public use and has a reasonable relationship to the overall plan for transmitting electricity for public use.
- Do not allow the petition for a line to be granted if eminent domain will be used and the line does not include substations at least every 50 miles.
- Make definitions, including limiting the term public to mean consumers located in Iowa.
- Exempts certain 34.5 KW and greater lines operating on AC and for specified utilities.
- Effective on enactment and applies to filings since November 1, 2014 that the IUB has not acted on.
What should you include in your
communication
with legislators?
We do not provide "canned letters" since we are told by legislators that your personal letters or emails make a bigger impact. Here are some suggestions for your letter/email/phone call.
- Your personal story and why you opposed to the misuse of eminent domain in general and for this project.
- Ask them to support HF 620 or SSB 1276
- Key points you may consider adding.
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These bills provide guidance to the IUB in handling petitions by merchant transmission companies that request the right of eminent domain as part of their petition for a transmission franchise.
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These bills require any petition to transmit high voltage direct current filed by a merchant transmission company which requests the right of eminent domain to provide substations that allow power to be bought and sold by Iowans on the line. By requiring these substations, Iowans will clearly have an opportunity to benefit from construction of the line.
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HF 620 and SSB 1276 do not prohibit the construction of a high voltage direct current transmission lines by a merchant transmission company. It simply sets requirements for the line if the right of eminent domain is requested.
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The bills remove subjectivity in the IUB review of petitions to run high voltage direct current transmission lines when the right of eminent domain by establishing clear requirements that must be met to serve a public benefit.
To call your legislator during session:
Representatives: 515.281.3221
Senators: 515.281.3371
Ask to be transferred to their desk.
To write your legislator during session:
(Legislator Name)
1007 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Home addresses and phone numbers are available online.
Please consider contacting other legislators besides the ones in your district.
Not all legislators are aware of the concerns of landowners impacted by the RICL proposed high voltage transmission line.
To Monitor Activity ONLINE: Go to the Legislature Website: www.legisliowa.gov Watch live debate, find information about legislators, lobbyists and committee schedules. |
