Randy Inman
Kim K.
Stealing conserved and private land for profit
June 28th 2008 14:58
One of the local roads I drive is full of farmland and open space. Last night I noticed that every property along this little winding road has a sign that says "PPL = Putting Profits before Land?" It peaked my curiosity. Apparently, our local electric company (PPL) and other power providers are trying to use eminent domain to seize property across Pennsylvania to build a huge powerline network.
These powerlines would make a large interstate system. Basically, someone would have a powerline in their backyard in Pennsylvania so an electric company could broaden their scope and give power to New Jersey. Why? So the power companies in question can make more money.
Eminent domain is one of those tricky things. It is supposedly established in the 5th amendment:
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
It has widely been accepted that the last line of this amendment establishes the right of government to take property if it is for public use. This has further been expanded to include projects for the "greater good." As we all know, "Greater good" is a very subjective thing. The Supreme Court has repeatedly deferred eminent domain to state and local government, saying that it is up to the individual states to decide how they want to use their land. Not a bad policy, except when there is a loophole...
Last year, a group of electric companies were all asking the DOE for rights to property for major power line construction. The localities where the lines were intended repeatedly protested the construction. Many of the areas where the lines were planned are farmland, conserved land, and people's homes. Since there were five different lines being proposed, the DOE decided to group them all together into something called "The National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor." The land included in this plan looks like this:
What do you know- my house is included. And probably some of yours. Why is this important? Because the NIETC is an area that does NOT deferr to states. The DOE has established nothing less than a federal condemnation zone. It allows an organization to usurp all other regulations and use the land regardless of what state or local governments have established. Since the NIETC was established, there are already plans to build major powerlines all around the states in question.
The constitution was made to protect the people. Those seeking to profit through the system have expanded and corrupted the meaning of this one line of the Constitution to do exactly what the founding fathers were trying to avoid. The amendment was meant to limit powers, not establish them.
These powerlines would make a large interstate system. Basically, someone would have a powerline in their backyard in Pennsylvania so an electric company could broaden their scope and give power to New Jersey. Why? So the power companies in question can make more money.
Eminent domain is one of those tricky things. It is supposedly established in the 5th amendment:
"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
It has widely been accepted that the last line of this amendment establishes the right of government to take property if it is for public use. This has further been expanded to include projects for the "greater good." As we all know, "Greater good" is a very subjective thing. The Supreme Court has repeatedly deferred eminent domain to state and local government, saying that it is up to the individual states to decide how they want to use their land. Not a bad policy, except when there is a loophole...
Last year, a group of electric companies were all asking the DOE for rights to property for major power line construction. The localities where the lines were intended repeatedly protested the construction. Many of the areas where the lines were planned are farmland, conserved land, and people's homes. Since there were five different lines being proposed, the DOE decided to group them all together into something called "The National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor." The land included in this plan looks like this:
www.conserveland.org
What do you know- my house is included. And probably some of yours. Why is this important? Because the NIETC is an area that does NOT deferr to states. The DOE has established nothing less than a federal condemnation zone. It allows an organization to usurp all other regulations and use the land regardless of what state or local governments have established. Since the NIETC was established, there are already plans to build major powerlines all around the states in question.
The constitution was made to protect the people. Those seeking to profit through the system have expanded and corrupted the meaning of this one line of the Constitution to do exactly what the founding fathers were trying to avoid. The amendment was meant to limit powers, not establish them.
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