Here is a tutorial for how to write a letter to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. You may ask, why is this important, since I live in Oklahoma? I will explain: Clean Line has obtained regulatory authority in Oklahoma to be considered a public utility. However, the OCC specifically denied Clean Line the right to eminent domain. They can build something there, but they have to get voluntary easements at this time. In Arkansas, they were denied both public utility status, as well as the power of eminent domain, so they have absolutely no power whatsoever here to do anything. This is where Section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act comes into play. Should the Department of Energy partner with Clean Line on this project, they will essentially be partnering with the Southwest Power Administration, which already has public utility status, as well as the power to condemn property in both Oklahoma and Arkansas. Now, you ask: Where does Tennessee play a role, here? The problem for Clean Line is that the Southwest Power Administration does not have authority in Tennessee. Earlier this year, Clean Line petitioned the TRA to become a public utility there, the docket is still open, and they havent made a decision yet. We do not know when they will make a decision. It could be today, next week, or sometime next year. They may be waiting to see what happens with the 1222 application, we just dont know. My point in all of this is simple: If Tennessee denies Clean Line public utility status, their project stops at the Mississippi river. They will have no authority to construct the final 17 mile section within Tennessee. Since they are banking on being able to connect to the grid at the TVA, this will do them little good, and would put a gigantic kink in their plans. How likely it is that this is the case, we are not sure. At minimum, we need for Tennessee to deny Clean Line the right to eminent domain. However, under their own admission, they have secured 40/50 agreements in Tennessee, so they could sweeten the deal over there and buy out that 17 mile stretch. I apologize for making this so lengthy, but I just wanted everyone to be on the same page as to where Clean Line is in this process. The Tennessee Regulatory Authority is an EXTREMELY important point of opposition that we have access to right now. Here is the docket: state.tn.us/tra/dockets/1400036.htm Here is what our Arkansas group has done there: tn.gov/tra/orders/2014/1400036x.pdf and: tn.gov/tra/orders/2014/1400036ah.pdf This seems like a daunting task, but its really quite simple. Heres how you do it: 1) Download this pre-formatted letter template and fill in the blanks: https://facebook/download/996327530384015/Letter%20to%20TRA%20Template.doc When you are writing your letter, you should explain your background and how this project would negatively impact your family and future plans. It also wouldnt hurt for those of you who have had negative experiences with land agents there in Oklahoma to lay that out for them as well. The more information we can get out about the coercive tactics Clean Line has been using the better. 2) After the letter is complete to your satisfaction (we are glad to proofread letters to help, just PM them to us!), save the file as a PDF. If your particular version of Word does not have a save as PDF function, there is an easy way to convert the file. freepdfconvert/ After you obtain the PDF file, you simply mail it to: [email protected] Put in the subject line: IN RE: PETITION OF PLAINS AND EASTERN CLEAN LINE LLC FOR A CERTIFICATE OF CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY APPROVING A PLAN TO CONSTRUCT A TRANSMISSION LINE AND TO OPERATE AS AN ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION PUBLIC UTILITY After you have emailed the letter to Sharla Dillon, it shouldnt take long for it to show up in the public docket. 3) Print out five copies of the letter, go to your local post office, and get a Priority Mail document envelope. Put the five copies in the envelope, and mail it to: Chairman, Tennessee Regulatory Authority c/o Sharla Dillon, Dockets and Records Manager 502 Deaderick Street, 4th Floor Nashville, Tennessee 37243 Once the Tennessee Regulatory Authority receives your hard copies, they will be passed on to the staff of the TRA, and the Chairman and four commissioners will each read a copy and take it into consideration before they make their final decision. I hope this isnt too long, but I cant stress how important this is. Currently, there are no letters within the docket from Oklahoma. We need to show the TRA Commissioners and staff that there is united opposition in the two states that this will impact the most. I hope this helps!
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 19:11:23 +0000
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