Missouri Farm Bureau president and farmer Garrett Hawkins has testified in favor of a bill that would protect farmland from eminent domain in the case of utility infrastructure. He testified before the Missouri Senate ag committee this week.
Peggy Whipple, attorney for the Grain Belt Express – which plans to build wind energy transmission lines across farmland in north central Missouri – testified House Bill 2005 violates the U.S. constitution and Missouri case law, “Which affirms the primary authority of the Missouri Public Service Commission and I’m going to quote now, ‘that transcends municipal or county lines to insure uniformly safe, proper and adequate utility service throughout our entire state.’”
Under the bill, the utility corporations would have to provide the Missouri Public Service Commission with a resolution of support from the county commissions of each county impacted by a merchant line.
