A bill before the Kansas House would allow farming interests to have more input into where power lines are placed.
The bill would require all power line projects to be reviewed by the Kansas Electric Transmission Authority before they are considered by the Kansas Corporation Commission.
Rep. Sharon Schwartz, a Republican from Washington, said the bill was in response to the corporation commission’s decision to grant approval to Clear Line Energy, which wants to build a 700-mile transmission line to carry wind energy to the east.
The Clear Line proposal has met with strong resistance, particularly in northeast Kansas.
Some members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee questioned if it’s necessary to add another layer of regulation for such projects.
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Associated Press information from: The Topeka Capital-Journal
