Grain Belt Express asks court to intervene against attorney general’s demands
Matthew Sanders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The company planning to build a high-voltage transmission line for wind energy across Missouri has asked the courts to stop the attorney general’s demands for documents.
Grant Belt Express filed a petition in Cole County Circuit Court on Wednesday, asking a judge to kill Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s civil investigative demand against the energy company. Bailey said in a release that he had issued the demand — similar to a subpoena — on July 2.
Bailey claims Grain Belt has misled consumers, overpromising on the energy it will deliver. He also criticized the company’s use of eminent domain to seize land for the transmission line.
The Missouri Public Service Commission, which regulates private utilities, has already approved the project.
“The Attorney General has no authority to interfere with the Missouri Public Service Commission or its final approval of this project,” Catherine Hanaway, lead counsel for Grain Belt, said in a written statement. “Grain Belt Express seeks to bring an end to the AG’s unlawful and politically motivated investigation.”
Wednesday’s petition states the Missouri Supreme Court denied review of the PSC’s approval in January and that the PSC’s order cannot be appealed because the deadline has expired.
Petition to Quash and Set Aside Civil Investigation Demand No. 25-37Download
The petition says the PSC confirmed at a public meeting Wednesday that it does not have the authority to revoke the project’s authorization.
The project will cross Missouri to deliver power from western wind fields to Illinois. The route will run through Mid-Missouri and a connection is planned from north of Centralia to near Kingdom City. That route includes land in Monroe, Audrain and Callaway counties, according to the Grain Belt website.
The main line will also run through Chariton and Randolph counties.
Grain Belt’s parent company, Invenergy, also inked a supply chain deal with Centralia’s Hubbell Power Systems.
The project has contracts with 39 municipal utilities in Missouri, including Columbia Water and Light. Project leaders say Grain Belt could save Missouri energy consumers billions of dollars.
The first eminent domain lawsuit was filed in Callaway County, according to reporting in the Missouri Independent.
Grain Belt’s website says construction on Phase 1 is expected to start next year.