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Rep. Mann applauds decision to remove Kansas from NIETC project

A U.S. Congressman from Kansas is applauding the U.S. Department of Energy’s decision to remove the state from a proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.

Tracey Mann tells Brownfield the primary concern for farmers was property rights.

“Early on, they were talking about a five mile stretch, potentially using eminent domain, taking peoples’ individual personal property, which infuriated me,” he says.

Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland says the organization has been fighting the issue to ensure fair compensation for farmers.

“This is a lifetime commitment of these lines going through their property that they have to deal with and actually not getting much out of it,” he says.

Earlier this year Mann supported legislation to prevent federal funds from being used to condemn farmers’ private property.

“My big thing is, if Kansans want it, so be it, but it should be a bottom up, Kansas driven initiative, not a heavy-handed top down approach.

Senators Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran also supported the bill.