I was concerned because the 200 ft towers would potentially go through
the one part of my service area that is currently free of both wind
farms and high voltage transmission lines.
But the current route takes it about a mile north of US Hwy 52 which
puts it at the south end of my coverage, it may cause some problems
for me, but not as bad as some of the originally proposed routes.
http://www.rockislandcleanline.com/site/page/preferred-and-alternative-routes-in-illinois
They don’t seem decided yet on what type of tower they will use, a
lattice tower is more likely to block a microwave path than a monopole:
http://www.rockislandcleanline.com/site/page/transmission-line-structures
*From:* Mike Hammett <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, February 28, 2015 2:53 PM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
They have been doing this for years, so maybe it has changed. *shrugs*
-----
Mike Hammett
Intelligent Computing Solutions
http://www.ics-il.com
<https://www.facebook.com/ICSIL><https://plus.google.com/+IntelligentComputingSolutionsDeKalb><https://www.linkedin.com/company/intelligent-computing-solutions><https://twitter.com/ICSIL>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: *"Bill Prince" <[email protected]>
*To: *[email protected]
*Sent: *Saturday, February 28, 2015 2:41:30 PM
*Subject: *Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
When I looked at their web site, a couple different voltages were
mentioned. The first reference was to ~~ 350,000 volts, and the
second one was 600,000 volts. You may be right about 1,000,000 volts,
as that would really reduce the current. Would make those thyristors
even more impressive.
bp
<part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com>
On 2/28/2015 12:37 PM, Mike Hammett wrote:
I think they're running 1M vDC.
-----
Mike Hammett
Intelligent Computing Solutions
http://www.ics-il.com
<https://www.facebook.com/ICSIL><https://plus.google.com/+IntelligentComputingSolutionsDeKalb><https://www.linkedin.com/company/intelligent-computing-solutions><https://twitter.com/ICSIL>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: *"Bill Prince" mailto:[email protected]
*To: *[email protected]
*Sent: *Saturday, February 28, 2015 2:33:14 PM
*Subject: *Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
Interesting how we've come full circle on power transmission.
Thomas Edison's original "big distribution" project failed because
it was essentially a DC transmission project. Back then, they
were only able to do DC transmission a couple of miles. The
advantages of AC won out.
Now that we understand the issues better, DC is coming back.
I would really like to see the thyristors that convert between AC
and DC with an operating voltage of 600,000 volts.
bp
<part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com>
On 2/28/2015 12:00 PM, Ken Hohhof wrote:
There is an ugly fight against a 500 mile high voltage DC
power line through Iowa and Illinois and use of eminent domain
to acquire the farmland.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Block-RICL-Rock-Island-Clean-Line/133050610203359
*From:* Chuck McCown <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, February 28, 2015 1:27 PM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
It is a tool to be used as a last resort. You make no friends
and it ends up costing you lots of money and goodwill. But it
is a very effective tool in Utah.
*From:* Trevor Bough <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, February 28, 2015 12:03 PM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
I have no doubt that eminent domain has been abused all over
the country in the manner you described with the developer
(that's why I provided the link about the Missouri port
authority losing their eminent domain claim to show that MO
anyhow has attempted to put an end to that and, in effect make
it harder to win any eminent domain case). I also agree that
it is much easier to win the argument that fiber is providing
a public use than a land developer. It is also easier for the
landowner to prove that your fiber doesn't have to go through
their property (unless they have a rather large tract of land,
in which case they are just stupid not to take the money and
accept the easement in the first place) to get where you need
to go. I am not against eminent domain. It's a sometimes
necessary tool. I'm against the idea that eminent domain just
makes problem people go away.
On Feb 28, 2015 12:46 PM, "Chuck McCown" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Utilities are treated as quazi public entities before the
law and are almost universally allowed all rights accorded
to political subdivisions such as eminent domain. It is
easy to “prove” that a fiber line is needed for public
use. Even our dear President would agree that your fiber
brings better, needed, service to those poor folks at the
other end of town... That half of the argument is almost
impossible to lose.
I would guess most states have that as a requirement. the
judges I have been before did not even want to step into
that argument.
Much easier to prove than a land developer taking property
for a new development and saying it will help bring jobs
and commerce to the community therefore it is needed for
public use. And you know that has happened all over the
country.
*From:* Trevor Bough <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, February 28, 2015 11:37 AM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
The 5th Amendment just established just compensation for
eminent domain. It leaves it to the states to define what
"public use" is. And the landowner still always has the
right to argue their point that it is not going to be used
for public use. Luckily, I live in a state that puts the
onus on the condemning authority to prove the taking is
definitely needed for public use.
On Feb 28, 2015 12:24 PM, "Chuck McCown" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>
> The 5th amendment of the US constitution took that from
you many years ago.
>
> From: Trevor Bough
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2015 10:30 AM
> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
>
>
> As a property owner, I find that idea completely
terrifying. I should absolutely have the right to say what
is or is not on my property. Working in the utility
industry, I still find that idea completely terrifying.
Electric utilities typically require at least 30' of
dedicated ROW. Gas and water utilities typically require
at least 20' of dedicated ROW. Would you like to be
required to give up 70' of your front yard without any
say? You still get to mow it and maintain it, but if the
utility feels the shrub you planted will interfere with
them operating their line, they have the right to come
destroy it. I would love to have dedicated easements
everywhere, but that is the reason there is dedicated
public ROW everywhere. Honestly people would be much
better off dedicating 20' to a utility easement when they
record the legal description of their property. Virtually
all utilities can fit into a single 20' easement,
especially if several go aerial, they just don't like to.
In my opinion, eminent domain should be a difficult
process with a requirement on the condemning authority to
prove need and history of good faith negotiations. Just my
2 cents (probably closer to $0.10 now).
>
> On Feb 28, 2015 10:48 AM, "Mike Hammett"
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>
>> Tangent...
>>
>>
>> I understand property rights and all, but I'd like to
see automatic approval for all ROW requests by qualified
entities.
>>
>>
>>
>> -----
>> Mike Hammett
>> Intelligent Computing Solutions
>> http://www.ics-il.com
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: "Trevor Bough" <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>>
>> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>> Sent: Friday, February 27, 2015 6:56:45 PM
>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
>>
>> Apparently Missourians fight to protect their property
rights more vigorously because, here anyway, it is a
lengthy and expensive process. Landowners in MO can also
be awarded legal fees if the condemning authority drops or
loses the case of eminent domain, so it is definitely not
a, "This guy is being difficult, we'll show him." fix-all.
http://watchdog.org/88546/missouri-landowners-win-in-eminent-domain-test-case/
Looks like it wasn't always the case here though.
>>
>> On Fri, Feb 27, 2015 at 11:19 AM, Chuck McCown
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I have done it several times. In my cases it was
pretty much the easy button. Just had to wait for the
docket.
>>>
>>> From: Trevor Bough
>>> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 6:21 PM
>>> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
>>>
>>>
>>> It's not quite that easy... You have to be authorized
by the state to be able to use eminent domain and even
then it is a very lengthy process (minimum of six months
typically) and it has to be for "public use", which a
utility can qualify as, but even after going to court for
six months or more to prove that this is necessary for the
public you are still at the mercy of the quart ruling that
you are right and now have the luxury of paying the
landowner for the access. It's not some magic automatic
"Easy Button".
>>>
>>> On Feb 26, 2015 1:34 PM, "Chuck McCown"
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> If you need to cross property with your pole line or
underground line, you can do so under the right of eminent
domain. Landowner has no say so. You go to court, the
judge bangs the gavel, and voila, instant ROW. However at
that point in time the tables turn somewhat in the favor
of the landowner as you have to compensate them for what
you have taken.
>>>>
>>>> That that typically ends up at a place where it
became a very expensive ROW...
>>>>
>>>> What you are talking about below is the establishment
of a prescriptive ROW through your failure to defend your
property. Another word for it is acquiescence or adverse
possession. You can certainly lose your right to defend if
you sit on your rights. So, yea, if they didn't have an
easement or court order, cut down that pole.
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Adam Moffett
>>>> Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 12:27 PM
>>>> To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>>>> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] FCC Live Link
>>>>
>>>> What eminent domain actions can a utility take? My
"knowledge" on that
>>>> topic is all hearsay.
>>>>
>>>> I heard of a landowner who saw a company putting a
pole in an empty lot
>>>> that he owned across the street from his house. He
watched them set the
>>>> pole and then after the workers left he went out with
a chainsaw and cut
>>>> it down because they never asked him if they could
put the pole there
>>>> (so the story went). In his point of view, if he let
them put the pole
>>>> there, they have permanent rights to access that spot
on his property
>>>> because of eminent domain.
>>>>
>>>>> You may even have the right of eminent domain now.
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
