By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Officials from three Central Kansas counties are in fact-finding mode. Talks about a large energy transmission line like the Grain Belt Express going through Kansas have been ongoing for some time. Things became a little more official when, on May 8, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a preliminary list of potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs). The proposed 5-mile-wide corridor would cut through Barton, Russell, and Pawnee Counties, among others in Kansas. Barton County Counselor Patrick Hoffman led a study session on the topic Tuesday.
"Electricity has always been really good for power users," he said, "and it's been pretty good for power generators, but the problem that comes with electricity, from the very beginning, is there's a transmission line that goes through a bunch of other people who aren't really excited about getting it."
The DOE listed 10 proposed corridors. The Midwest-Plains corridor extends 780 miles from Dodge City through Pawnee County, north past Barton and Russell Counties, then east to the Illinois-Indiana state line. A move from the DOE to designate a transmission corridor would kickstart several other processes, including enabling energy developers to receive federal funding. Commissioners from Barton, Russell, and Pawnee Counties have agreed to a joint meeting on the subject, possibly alongside Katie Sawyer, State Director for Dr. Roger Marshall's senate office.
"We will have a chance to create a document of some kind that is our local input," Hoffman said. "We will pass it publicly and send it to the Department of Energy. I think it makes sense to coordinate with all the other people and not just do our own thing completely. I don't think we should wait around forever, but I think we should listen to these other meetings."
There are four phases in the designation process. The public comment phase (two) ended on June 24, and Phase 3 is expected to begin this fall.
Hoffman said though one transmission line may be behind the proposed corridor in Kansas, the idea is that it's a corridor that other companies could also use. The 5-mile wide corridor does not necessarily establish the easement that would determine how landowners within the corridor are affected.
Area county commissioners are also working with the Kansas Natural Resources Coalition to gather information about the project. The Larned Community Center is hosting an information meeting about the project on Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.
CLICK HERE for an interactive map of the proposed corridors.
CLICK HERE for the Department of Energy's detailed plans for each of the corridors.