About a hundred property owners from across the tri-state area converged at the High Plains Tech Center Thursday evening to hear a presentation from representatives of the Southern Great Plains Property Rights Coalition.
The advocacy group was formed out of concern for the private property rights of landowners as they are impacted by the increasing development of electrical transmission lines across the region.
Members are circulating a petition asking state and federal lawmakers to consider just compensation, fair treatment, and respect for private property rights as the growth of wind energy spurs the development of infrastructure throughout the area.
Over 70 landowners between Woodward and Oklahoma City have had property condemned by power of eminent domain as Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company moved to complete an Extra High Voltage transmission line across their property.
The coalition is seeking what they describe as just and fair compensation for providing the right-of-way for the emerging wind industry in northwest Oklahoma.
In particular the group is concerned over the granting of public utility status to private sector corporations from out of state, as along with this status comes the power of eminent domain.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has already granted a partial public utility status to ITC Great Plains of Topeka, Kansas, in 2007.
Clean Line Energy of Houston, Texas, has also applied to the Corporation Commission for public utility status.
Clean Line is planning to build an 800-mile, $3.2 billion Extra High Voltage transmission line from the Oklahoma Panhandle to Memphis, Tennessee.
The Corporation Commission will rule on Clean Line's application for public utility status at a hearing scheduled for November.
For video of the coalition's informational meeting click here now.
