The Southwest Power Pool and the U.S. Department of Energy just received another warning shot across their bows.
The first came this week from Gov. Kevin Stitt when he suggested “unplugging” from the SPP because of its regional electrical transmission lines proposed across the state. He vowed to fight any use of eminent domain to build the lines.
The latest to join the battle is Attorney General Gentner Drummond who came out Thursday in opposition to a 645-mile electric transmission corridor proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy that would span Oklahoma from the panhandle through the Arkansas border.
The Delta-Plains National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor is one of several proposed corridors across the United States proposed to expand the nation’s power grid. It has not yet been finalized for development.
Drummond said the project threatens to harm Oklahoma property owners and offers no benefit to a net energy producing state like Oklahoma.
“The threat of Federal Eminent Domain to property owners is classic federal overreach,” Drummond wrote in a letter sent today to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. “I will not sit idly by and allow it to proceed without exercising all lawful measures to protect the private property rights of our Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.”
Drummond said he appreciates Oklahoma House Speaker-Elect Kyle Hilbert’s resolution filed Thursday to take all legislative action available to prevent the establishment of the corridor in Oklahoma.
The proposed corridor stretches from 4 to 18 miles in width as it spans across the state. The Department of Energy is expected to designate its final selected corridors soon.
Read the letter.
Source: AG press release
