Lawmakers ask Energy chief to block power line

WASHINGTON — All six members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation urged Energy Secretary Rick Perry on Tuesday to “protect state sovereignty” and defend “states’ rights” by blocking construction of an energy transmission line proposed to cut across Arkansas.

In a letter, the six Republicans urged the former Texas governor to help them fight Clean Line Energy Partners’ $2 billion project, which would carry electricity from Oklahoma wind farms to consumers in the southeast United States.

U.S. Sens. John Boozman of Rogers and Tom Cotton of Dardanelle, and U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford of Jonesboro, French Hill of Little Rock, Steve Womack of Rogers and Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs wrote to Perry a day after they introduced legislation that would give states and American Indian tribes the power to derail these types of projects.

If passed, Arkansas’ governor and the head of its Public Service Commission would have to explicitly authorize the use of eminent domain before it could be used against landowners.

Decisions about the placement of transmission lines have traditionally been made by states, the lawmakers said.

The Plains and Eastern Clean Line project would span more than 700 miles, entering Arkansas just north of Van Buren and exiting the state south of Wilson in Mississippi County if the preferred route is adopted.

It would carry 4,000 megawatts, enough power to supply 1 million homes, supporters say. A converter station in Pope County would enable up to 500 megawatts of the power to be delivered to Arkansas customers, the company added.

Arkansas government officials and many landowners along the path have opposed construction of the project, saying it would be an eyesore, lower property values, endanger migratory waterfowl and force landowners to sell property against their will.

Supporters say it would create jobs, reduce carbon emissions and diversify the nation’s energy supply.

In their letter to Perry, the lawmakers say they don’t object to renewable energy or improvements to the nation’s electric grid.

“Instead, our objections relate to the vast overreach the Obama Administration employed, allowing this project to skip the necessary protections which exist to protect state sovereignty and private property rights,” they wrote.