Support for RI Clean Line is unjustified

The Rock Island Clean Line (RICL) is trying to convince people their transmission line project is needed.

Why is Pat Higby, the energy education and outreach coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa, endorsing the project? Does Higby realize the majority of wind farms supporting this line could be in South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota? Does she realize the labor force to build the line will be specialized from other states and after completion, only about five employees are needed to maintain the line? Does she realize no wind energy stays in Iowa?

Taxpayers, electric consumers and landowners will be the big losers from this line. Is it OK for taxpayers to fork out billions of dollars in wind subsidies so billionaire investors can take thousands of acres of private property for their own economic gain? Is it also OK for the transmission line to devalue landowner's property, mainly farmland, causing hardships for those private businesses?

Wind energy is more costly than conventional power and electricity prices are skyrocketing in states with the largest wind power.

Kim Junker

New Hartford