Commission approves moratorium on high voltage lines from Missouri

With two of the three commissioners present, the Linn County Commission has approved a moratorium on high voltage power lines. The lines target the lines coming from a solar farm in Missouri into Kansas. (Stock photo by Andrey Metelev / Upsplash)

By Charlene Sims, Journal staff

LCJeditor@icloud.com

MOUND CITY – With just two commissioners in attendance and no county counselor available, Linn County Commissioners Alison Hamilton and Jim Johnson voted to approve a temporary moratorium on actions related to new high voltage electric lines being installed in Linn County. at the Monday, May 18, meeting.

Hamilton explained that she had received a map from Linn County Rural Water District No. 1(RWD No. 1) that showed that the water district had been presented with easements for interstate  transmission lines to be put in Linn County.

Hamilton said that the person that reached out from RWD No. 1 stated, “I thought we had a prohibition on this. Why are they asking for easements?”

Hamilton said her response was she didn’t think they could put interstate transmission lines through the county without permission.

“But apparently they can, and I think the loophole was the heavy industrial, because if you look under I-1 and I-2 it’s for a public use district and they do not require the conditional use permit,” said Hamilton.

“They don’t have to have our knowledge. They don’t have our permission,” Hamilton said.

“Currently, under Linn County regulation, public utility, public service, municipal power plants, substations, towers, transmission lines, those are permitted uses under I-1 (Light Industrial) and I-2 (Heavy Industrial) without a conditional use permit,” Hamilton continued. “And I just want to make sure that the county is aware that the solar project for Clearway did move forward in Missouri and that particular project is scheduled to be approved on June 3 at the commission in Bates County. So that hasn’t officially been approved yet.”

Hamilton was a vocal opponent of a solar project proposed by Clearway for Linn County and was instrumental in both stopping that project and having a prohibition placed on all utility solar energy conversion systems (SECS) in Linn County.

Hamilton said, “My concern about that is we had a prohibition on solar for that reason. One of the reasons was to, you know, not have high voltage transmission lines through our farm ground. That was one main concern. And with the way our regulations are written, unfortunately, they’re going to have a pass because they’re zoned heavy industrial.

“So let’s say that we have to give them permission to put the interstate transmission lines. I don’t know if we have to but let’s say we do. We would not receive any sort of compensation, kind of like the pipeline or anything like that. We’re completely out of it. And this is a direct result from Clearway solar project in Bates County coming to the substation in Linn County.

“I move that the Linn County Board of County Commissioners  adopt an immediate temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval, permitting, construction, expansion or administrative authorization of public utility and public service uses identified in Table 12-1 in the Industrial Zone district, section 23 of the Linn County Planning and Zoning Regulations.

“The purpose of this moratorium is to temporarily pause consideration and approval of such uses in order to allow Linn County sufficient time to:

1. Review and evaluate the impacts of high voltage interstate electric transmission and infrastructure and associated utility facilities on agricultural land, industrial zoned land, private property rights, environmental resources, public safety, infrastructure and community character.

2. Consider amendments or revisions to the Linn County Planning and Zoning Regulations including Table 12-1 and related utility use provisions which include facilities associated with interstate and regional electric transmission projects.

3. Obtain additional public input, legal review, and technical analysis regarding the sighting and the regulation of utility infrastructure within Linn County.

4.   Protect the health, safety, and general welfare of Linn County residents.

This moratorium shall remain in effect for a period of six months unless earlier repealed or extended by further action of the governing body.”

Hamilton concluded, “That’s my motion.”

Johnson seconded the motion.

When Hamilton asked for further discussion, she added, “I would just like to say I’m going to give this all to Jacklyn (Paletta, the county counselor) and hopefully she can have a little bit more of a solid answer next week and then also give it to Jenny (Cummings, Planning and Zoning Director) to take to planning and zoning.”                                                                                                           

The motion passed 2 to 0. Commissioner Jason Hightower did not attend the meeting.