Sunday, June 22, 2014

SWEPCO Power Lines

This is a local issue that has gathered a lot of attention among the people here.  It is a classic "not in my backyard" one.  We all want affordable and reliable electricity, myself included.  To provide that, SWEPCO says they need to build transmission lines and a substation.  The issue is the route of those transmission lines.  I do not have a personal stake in this issue as the lines will be near but not on my property; and while I may be able to see the lines, it is unlikely to be any more of an eyesore than the development already in my neighborhood. That said, it is an issue very important to many of my constituents, and when a for profit monopoly uses eminent domain to acquire the use of private lands it is a governmental responsibility to ensure it is necessary and justified. After reading through the docket of this case and talking to people from SWEPCO and interested parties opposing them, I have determined that there is no justification for routing these lines through this district. I have stated my case in more detail to the commission hearing arguments in this still open case. They can be viewed here:

http://www.apscservices.info/ReceivedDocs/1528_7_08132014_1_1.pdf

Simply put, SWEPCO has not made a case strong enough to justify infringement on the private property rights of affected landowners.