Energy & Water

A modern compensation method for eminent domain is on the horizon. The Center for Rural Affairs discusses utilizing market driven compensation for rural land owners facing transmission line siting through their property.

Will it be out with fair market value and in with market driven compensation? [Center for Rural Affairs]

In what is likely a nod to future events, the Texas Tea Party Caucus has requested public documents from Tarrant Regional Water District. The allegations include “a long-running eminent domain scheme.” 

Strategic use of legal public information requests is de rigueur in Texas politics. {Breibart]

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) wants to buy wind energy from Oklahoma. Oklahoma and Tennessee share no borders. To bring wind energy to TN, it requires 700 miles of transmission lines through Arkansas. 

 

My solution on how to build 700 miles of transmission lines through Arkansas: Football. Let the Sooners, Cowboys, Razorbacks, and Volunteers decide if the plan moves forward. If the Volunteers beat either Oklahoma team, then there’s a deal. If, the Razorbacks beat the Volunteers and either the Sooners or Cowboys, then eminent domain is off the table. 

 

Naturally, a project of this magnatiude caught the attention of U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) and Congressman Fincher (TN). These gentlemen in lieu of settling this issue via football, sent a letter with 11 questions about the TVA proposal.  They raised 4 eminent domain questions. 3 of the 4 eminent domain questions focus on how land owners will be compensated. Compensating land owners is a hot topic. It’s usually the issue that causes law suits. For the entire list of questions see the article in the Chattanoogan.