Don’t back the Clean Line

Last spring, during a meeting regarding Rock Island Clean Line's project to construct a high voltage transmission line through 16 Iowa counties, we were referred to as 'NIMBYs” which means 'NOT IN MY BACK YARD.” I believe what was implied by Rock Island Clean Line is that all landowners being asked to give up their farm land to support a for profit company are nothing more than selfish, regressive and uneducated people whose main concern is our own interests and not the 'common good” which is being highly touted through this process.

Texas billionaire investors are seeking to impose their will upon hardworking Iowa farm families who have labored for a lifetime to purchase and own their farms. This right of ownership is being threatened by powerful interests hiding behind the guise of 'the common good.” If those that are investing so heavily in this project are seeking the common good, then why are they going to profit from it when others are going to lose? There are many issues at hand, but here are three that are very critical.

1. If eminent domain is granted to a private company to take land for its own use and economic gain, it is potentially cracking the door for others to come behind and do likewise given they have enough political clout and financing to pull it off.

2. There were studies conducted indicating that land values could drop in ranges from 10-30 percent on the overall property value.

3. There are concerns by many landowners about how this will impact their farming operations due to the height of the towers and access for maintenance. Aerial spraying and fertilizing could be impacted. A separate access is required for an easement and if crops are present when maintenance is necessary, the crop will be destroyed.

For my family, this line will travel through the north one-third of our farm, not following a fence line but right across the field, requiring nine acres of land easement. The foundations are 50 feet in the ground to support 150-foot towers. What will be the impact upon future soil fertility and pattern tiling in and around the easement that will be compacted by heavy machinery and drill tailings during construction?

Sadly, this system does not benefit the people of Iowa. The power will be transmitted 375 miles across Iowa and into Illinois where it gets converted then distributed to eastern states.

This is a project that may appear to be for the common good, but it will financially benefit a small number of people. A large number of landowners have understood the danger of supporting this venture and have expressed their objections to the Iowa Utilities Board who will rule on this sometime in the near future.

RICL has only been able to acquire 12.5-13 percent of the total number of easements in Iowa over the last 15 months that are required to move the project forward. Everyone must understand the impact this will have in and around the corridor. It is important that landowners do not sign voluntary easement rights to Rock Island Clean Line.

' Rick Gersema lives with his wife Jean on the family farm near Parkersburg and is the building and grounds supervisor for the Cedar Falls Community School District. Comments: gersey6@msn.com