Sens. Boozman, Cotton file amendment to block Clean Line funding

U.S. Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark. and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., have filed an amendment to block funding to the controversial Clean Line transmission line that will run through Arkansas and was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The amendment, filed Thursday (April 21), is attached to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill and would block funding for projects carried out under Section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Clean Line approval is the first allowed under 1222, which is a provision that gives the Energy Secretary increased authority in approving power transmission projects.

Boozman and Cotton reiterated their belief that Clean Line approval is an “unprecedented case of federal overreach.”

“The Department of Energy’s decision to move forward with the Clean Line transmission project despite the objections of Arkansans is executive overreach at its worst,” the two Senators noted in a joint statement released by Cotton’s office. “Despite our best efforts to work with the Department of Energy, Secretary Moniz has proven himself unwilling to compromise and we must take action to stop this assault on Arkansas and the rights of private property owners.”

Energy Department (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz on March 25 gave final approval for Clean Line, a project to be built by Houston-based Clean Line Energy Partners would deliver wind and other clean energy to more than 1.5 million homes in the mid-South and southeast U.S.

The Plains & Eastern Clean Line is an approximately 700-mile-long direct current transmission line to deliver electricity from the Oklahoma panhandle to Arkansas, Tennessee and other states in the mid-South and southeast. In Arkansas, the 200-foot right-of-way enters in Crawford County north of Van Buren and travels below Alma and Dyer before dissecting Mulberry to follow a line with Interstate 40 through most of Franklin County. From there, the line travels through Johnson County, Pope County, northern Conway County, southern Van Buren County, southern Cleburne County, White County, Jackson County, Poinsett County, Cross County, and exiting Arkansas through Mississippi County north of Memphis. The line will also run through parts of Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Clean Line officials issued this statement about the amendment: “This is a clear example of political meddling targeted at one company and changes the rules in the middle of the game, after tens of millions of private dollars have been invested. The Cotton amendment hurts American consumers and business by undermining the law that was passed under a Republican administration with bipartisan support. Earlier this week there was strong bipartisan affirmation of the full U.S. Senate of the Section 1222 program that is part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.”

Opponents of the deal say Clean Line’s negotiated rate authority from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will eventually be passed on to the backs of ratepayers. Critics also complain about a lack of transparency in presenting financials and plan details to potentially affected landowners. There’s also the eminent domain issue, which has property owners angry and confused.

Clean Line supporters, like Glen Hooks with the Sierra Club of Arkansas, say such projects will help foster the growth of clean energy sources like solar and wind.

“Putting thousands of megawatts of clean wind energy onto the grid – including 500 megawatts for Arkansas – will undoubtedly lead to less dirty coal and gas being burned for electricity.  We are on our way to cleaner air, healthier citizens, and a booming clean energy economy,” Hooks said in a statement after Moniz approved the line.