Welcome to the Future!
Some Republicans in Iowa are openly speaking out about their opposition to former Gov. Rick Perry due to his appointment to the board of directors for Energy Transfer Partners.
Eminent domain and pipelines are front and center issues for Republicans in Iowa. DesMoinesBlog
Passing by a margin greater than 2:1, Littleton Colorado voters approved a measure to require that a property owner consent to eminent domain before eminent domain can be used.
Removing the ability to threaten eminent domain will likely make negotiations for property purchases more productive. Supporters say the goal is for citizens to do what is best for Littleton.
Iowa is polling on everything from potential Presidential candidates to private companies using eminent domain. Private companies using eminent domain is as popular in Iowa as it is in Texas.
Iowans like energy projects, but they strongly dislike these same companies using eminent domain.
An earnest supporter of property rights, Representative Will Metcalf filed HB 1889 that requires municipal or county approval before construction of the railway. Representative Metcalf is strongly opposed to taking private lands for private enterprise.
Metcalf’s opposition to high speed rail is noted at NoTexasHighSpeedRail & Texas Turf.
A second Nebraska judge has halted Keystone XL’s use of eminent domain. The second injunction is from York County and affects the sourthern portion of the pipeline. Omaha.Com WOWT NBC Laredo Morning Times
The above is a quote from USA Today this week examining the harsh opinions against eminent domain. Opinions become the most heated when eminent domain is used for ” taking of private lands for private enterprise,” quoting Representative Will Metcalf.
Reflecting on Kelo, the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case permitting the use of eminent domain for economic development, its noted that not all public use projects move quickly.
In the case of Kelo, no construction in furtherance of the economic development project has occurred post-eminent domain.
Restricting the use of eminent domain is en vogue. Idaho’s Senate passed a bill to stop cities from using eminent domain to build hiking trails, bike trails, and greenways.
Idahoans love their green space. The state is almost entirely greenspace. Idahoans don’t love eminent domain. The bills author said this of eminent domain:
“eminent domain gives cities too much power.”
Texas looks to also stop cities from using eminent domain for trails and green space. SB 178 by Nichols
A vocal group at a transmission line public meeting echoed the refrain- no eminent domain for private gain. It rhymes which makes it good for protest marches.
A Houston Company is the target of this group of landowners. The company, Clean Line Energy Partners, is seeking the federal government’s buy-in to a wind energy project in Oklahoma & Arkansas. If the federal government gets involved, then the company gets eminent domain authority.
200 landowners showed up to a meeting. They were lock step in opinion. The highlights:
Project Supporters Say:
A Wichita Falls jury validated property owners’ right to collect reasonable damages when electric power lines lower the value of their land.
It boils down to a question of the value of the remainder of the land after every one agrees eminent domain is proper.
The electric provider offered the landowner $140,000 for an easement 1.7 miles long, that bisects the landowner’s property. The jury sided with the landowner appraiser who said the value is $393,165.
Texas Lawyer on Oncor Electric Delivery v. Clack
St. Louis Aldermen approve the use of eminent domain to retain an employer in St. Louis, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. The choice was retain 3,100 jobs or use eminent domain against 30 properties. The vote was 17:11.
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency has not indicated if it will stay in St. Louis or relocate, but eminent domain use has been decided to try to keep it in St. Louis.
Refreshing Recollection: Information Intelligence on the use of eminent domain to retain an employer.