To the Editor:
I am a landowner and also on the board of The Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance. For those who don’t know, we are the nonprofit organization formed to oppose the transmission line proposed by Rock Island Clean Line, or RICL for short. The intended 375-mile route would travel through Iowa to take wind power from O’Brian County to Chicago and on east.
To me, the question is what precedent do we want to set? Do we let a private company use eminent domain for most of a project through prime Iowa farmland? Talking and writing to landowners and concerned citizens across the state tells me it will come to that. A majority of folks who contact us do not want this line on their property no matter what payment is offered. They say they won’t sign, and it will soon have to be taken by condemnation.
Soon we are going into spring planting. Everyone is busy and concerned with farming and RICL is pushed to the back of our worries. However, land agents will be out there trying to get the voluntary easements so important to the project. Please look carefully at the easement when they call. Have an attorney look it over. Confer with other family members. Better yet, don’t sign if you are against this line! It isn’t over by a long shot. RICL has much to accomplish before or if ever they are granted their franchise by the Iowa Utilities Board.
We are not opposed to wind energy. We are against this line for a multitude of reasons. Our Iowa utilities are doing a fine job of developing wind energy. The people of our state will get greater benefit from them than anything RICL has to offer. For excellent information concerning the easements being offered by RICL go to www.calt.iastate.edu.
Darlene Darr
Ayrshire, Iowa
