Welcome to the Future!
A group of nuns in Pennsylvania own land that the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline would like to occupy.
The nuns have taken the unusual step of suing the federal government claiming that the interstate natural gas pipeline violates their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Its a show down between the 5th Amendment (private property rights home) and the 1st amendment (protection of freedom of religious exercise).
2017- the year eminent domain went pop culture. Book reviewing Kelo, a film called Litle Pink House making the film festival circuit, and a play in Nebraska about eminent domain and a pipeline.
Small town hokey play? No. It was a finalist in 2016’s prestigious Eugene O’Neill National Playwriting Competition
Urban Farms in California could get a property tax cut if San Diego adopts its ordinance to reduce property taxes for urban farming lands.
San Diego Union Tribune | New incentive aims to spur more community gardens
Missouri’s Western District Court of Appeals held that all counties along the Grain Belt Express, wind transmission line, must approve the project.
Appeal of this ruling has been declined by the state supreme court.
Missouri’s Public Service Commission relied on this ruling to deny approval until all counties sign off on the plan & it is said to impact other transmission lines and Pipelines.
St. Louis Post Dispatch | Despite giving vocal support, state regulators again deny Grain Belt…
The Wisconsin County: Wood County, WI
What did Wood County Board of Supervisors do? Pass a resolution calling on the Legislature to prohibit a specific energy company from having the power of eminent domain
The Activists behind it: 80 Feet is Enough, who argue that the existing 80 feet of pipeline easement is enough, more land shouldn’t be taken
The Legislative goal: to give property owners the value of their land back
Wisconsin Public Radio | Wood County Passes Resolution To Keep Oil…
St. Paul, Minnesota is moving forward with new short term rental rules that would:
What sparked the short term rental rules? The 2018 Super Bowl is being hosted by the Twin Cities.
Lancaster County Pennsylvania is experiencing an uptick in eminent domain actions due to the Atlantic Sunrise gas pipeline.
The Lancaster News Press Editorial board editorial opposed to eminent domain for pipelines makes 3 points:
4 Native American tribes signed an agreement opposing eminent domain–the ability to buy your land.
While Native American soveriegnty is murky, it got a boost this week via a ruling from the 10th Circuit.
Where this will be most interesting will be when eminent domain is sought over lands held by or held in trust by native american tribes. That’s anthing from the Keystonr XL protests to the Native American lands between the Permian Basin and the Mexico border.
NYC Department of Environmental Protection has recommended a plan to pay private proeprty owners to go green.
How would this work?
NRDC | Paying Private Property Owners in NYC to “Go Green”
The concept: rent out your backyard swimming pool by the hour.
The reaction from policymakers: lots of legislative answers:
USA Today Network | ‘Airbnb for pools’ in Lakewood, Jackson faces legal, insurance questions