Real Estate & Property Law

City Enters Powerline Discussions

By Alan Ackerman

Henderson, Kentucky officials are intelligently moving forward to discuss a proposed line traversing from Mount Vernon, Indiana to Sebree, Kentucky.

This is an example of a pro-active government trying to mitigate the harm to the community working with the utility that has to site the wires somewhere.  In a similar vein, the utility could simply walk out and wait for the siting to occur without any discussion with the community at all.

14WFIE.com

The power company wants to build a high-voltage transmission line, but Henderson officials are concerned with the path of that line.

The meeting was a chance for both sides to air their concerns. No final decision was made during that meeting. Vectren officials say the talks were productive, but Henderson officials had no comment about the line that would cross over their river.

The city doesn't want to grant easements for the construction of towers. The reason, city leaders say, is the line could interfere with a major expansion project planned for the sewage treatment plant.

Also the 300-foot towers that would guide the line over the Ohio River could be seen from the riverfront. That's not something city leaders say they want when currently spending over $8 million to improve the downtown riverfront in Henderson.

City officials previously told 14 News that Vectren, a private company, can't claim eminent domain over public property.

The meeting was held by the state board on electric generation and transmission siting. That board is expected to hear the case and make a ruling.

Full post as published by National Eminent Domain Blog on October 01, 2010 (boomark / email).