contacts on subject of land perseveration & transmission lines

[Julie Broadway]

State Horse Councils,

We have been contacted by a land preservation group in Maryland that has concerns about proposed new transmission lines cutting across conserved/preserved land to support the growing electricity needs for a data center.  Holley Groshek and I spoke with Alice Chalmers this AM and are offering to help her identify if any other states in the US have experience with this, and what steps have been taken to try and get the lines re-routed or how you have dealt with this issue.

 

Email if you have some information I can share with her and perhaps put you in touch with each other.

 

Julie M. Broadway, CAE®

President - American Horse Council & American Horse Council Foundation

1775 Tysons Blvd.
5^th Floor, Suite 4110
McLean VA 22102

 

Phone:202-296-4031

 

[Timothy M Bonham]

Here in Minnesota, I am dealing with this in a new transmission line that might go near our home farm.  My best advice is to talk to the planners early.  This line won't actually be in operation for 4-5 years. They are quite willing to modify the planned route, if you have any reasonable concern.  But the further along the plans get, the harder it is to get changes made.  I was able to get them to modify the planned route simply by pointing out that one part went close to a lake/wildlife marsh area, and that the soil would be hard to build towers on -- and that a slight change would route it alongside a gravel road.  Didn't take much persuasion at all, at this stage, when this is just 1 of 3 possible routes.   

So talk to the planners early about your concerns.  And if you know the area well enough to suggest a possible alternative, that improves chances of success.