Proposed bill to restrict authority of IUB

According to the bill’s explanation, if an electric transmission line of more than 300 miles needs to exercise eminent domain with regards to 20 percent or more of the necessary property for construction, the decision to grant a franchise must be granted by a majority vote in both legislative houses.

Specifically, one of the biggest projects impacted by the bill is the Rock Island Clean Line project, a 375-mile proposed transmission line that would bring wind-generated energy from O’Brien County to Illinois via direct-current transmission. That energy would then be utilized by states on the east coast.

“There are a lot of parcels of land impacted by this project,” Carolyn Sheridan, board president of the Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance, said. “Eminent domain was not designed to be used like this. We’d like to see some benchmarks, to have at least some minimum number of voluntarily easements required.”

According to Sheridan, there are currently no benchmarks in place regarding the use of eminent domain.

Local legislators, however, are skeptical the bill will make it through the session.

“I can’t comment on whether it will pass the House,” said Sen. David Johnson, R-Ocheyedan. “There’s been no discussion in the Senate about changing anything.”

Rep. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids, echoed Johnson’s statement.

“There are plenty of pieces of legislation introduced each year to broaden the scope of the Legislature, or a governmental entity’s jurisdiction,” she said.