The Iowa House of Representatives recently passed a bill restricting the ability of independent transmission developer to exercise their power of eminent domain. The House passed House Bill 2448 by a 63-33 vote. If passed by the Iowa Senate, developers would have to obtain agreements from 75% of property owners along an electric line's route within three years or the Iowa Utilities Board would not be able to grant the authority necessary to compel cooperation from reticent landowners along a project's route. It appears the bill is aimed to block completion of the Rock Island Clean Line, a $2 billion, 500 mile high-voltage direct current transmission project planned by Clean Line Energy Partners.
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