energy-farmer.org recently reported that the Michigan Public Service Commission had issued a certificate to International Transmission Company, or ITC, to construct a 140 mile long transmission line in Michigan. The line would begin around Frankenmuth, loop around Bad Axe, and then head south through Sanilac and St. Clair Counties. The certificate issued to ITC by the MPSC permits construction of a transmission line along what ITC had identified as its preferred route. That route understandably concerned landowners, because it will require the condemnation of ag land despite the fact that existing rights-of-way were nearby. Other parties, notably “ABATE” (an association of large industrial users of electricity) and the MMPA/MMEA (associations of municipal and cooperative electricity generators) raised different concerns; those concerns centered around whether the proposed line was too large and costly, and whether additional authorization to construct the line was necessary.
Both ABATE and the MMPA/MMEA recently filed appeals of the Commission’s February 25th Order authorizing construction of the line. As part of their appeals, those parties have also asked the MPSC to ”stay” the effectiveness of the MPSC Order until a panel of judges can hear the appeal. The MPSC is expected to consider the request for stay in the next few weeks.
Tags: condemnation attorney Michigan, ITC, ITC condemnation, ITCTransmission, Michigan Public Service Commission ITC, MPSC ITC
