Vote against Rock Island Clean Line

Voters should ask Republican and Democratic candidates who support the Rock Island Clean Line why they are helping three billionaire RICL owners take Iowans' farmland.

This private company will be asking the Iowa Utilities Board for the right to condemn Iowa farmland within a 375 mile, 16 county area. Building the Rock Island Clean Line will add more millions to the Ziff Brother's billions, but not add a spark of electricity for Iowans to use; it would all be going to Illinois and points east.

A May 22, 2012, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission document lists the RICL's five levels of ownership (Why five levels? Protection from lawsuits or taxes?):

'Rock Island is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rock Island Wind Line, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Clean Line Energy Partners L.L.C. The majority owner of Clean Line Partners is ZAM Ventures, L.P., the principal investment vehicle for ZBI Ventures, L.L.C. ZBI Ventures L.L.C. is described as focused on long-term investments in the energy sector and is a subsidiary of Ziff Brothers Investments, L.L.C.”

A 2012 Forbes list of Aspen, Colo., billionaires said the Ziff brothers (Dirk, Robert and Daniel) are each worth $4.2 billion. Do you think the Ziff brothers would allow Iowa farmers to condemn their Aspen property to build cattle feedlots?

Please vote against any Democrat or Republican who supports these RICL billionaires taking our beautiful Iowa farmland.

Jim Doorley

Iowa City