WASHINGTON – Kansas Senators Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall, and Representative Tracey Mann have introduced legislation aimed at preventing the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to seize private land for electric transmission lines.
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently proposed a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) that could allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to override state decisions and permit transmission lines, even when local regulators have denied applications. The bill would prohibit federal funds from being used to take private property for these projects and prevent FERC from bypassing state authorities.
“Kansans have made it clear that their land is not for sale,” said Sen. Moran, while Rep. Mann emphasized, “I am vehemently opposed to any federal land seizures.”
The Kansas Farm Bureau expressed support for the legislation, which would safeguard landowners’ rights during negotiations for transmission line projects.
