Waymaster Fights Back at NIETC

The State Legislative Budget Committee (LBC) conducted its first meeting of the interim on Wednesday, September 4.

Representative Troy L. Waymaster of Bunker Hill serves as Vice Chairman of the LBC and requested the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) present on the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC). Representative Waymaster questioned the United States Department of Energy's authority of the language they are using to introduce this proposed corridor in Russell and Osborne Counties within the 109th Kansas House District.

"It appears to me that the language added to the Investment in Infrastructure and Jobs Act (IIJA) is a clear violation of states rights, this is a violation of the 10th Amendment," Waymaster challenged. He continued, "It is also apparent to me that this clause also circumvents the KCC's authority, as well."

Waymaster expressed to Paul Owings, Deputy Chief Engineer with the KCC, "We have citizens in our state, constituents in my district that are concerned and I'm concerned. They could lose their agricultural land, oil production, homes and way of life."

Owings did share with the LBC that the Grain Belt Express, which was approved by the KCC on December 7, 2011 follows the Midwest-Plains Corridor of the NIETC. He also advised the committee that Grain Belt Express plans to formally request to the US Department of Energy to narrow the corridor from the proposed five-mile-wide preliminary corridor to just half a mile wide.

Waymaster expressed concern to the KCC about the five-mile corridor with the Midwest-Plains Corridor of the NIETC and said, "This is what prompted me to meet with the Legislative Revisors Office in August to have a bill drafted to protect our citizens, state and rights and this bill will be introduced in January." Waymaster continued, "We are also formalizing a meeting in Russell County and I am personally inviting the KCC to attend."

The 109th Kansas House District consists of the entire counties of Ellsworth, Lincoln, Osborne, Russell and Smith. Representative Waymaster has served the 109th District in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2013. Please contact Representative Waymaster regarding the NIETC at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov.

(Information courtesy Representative Troy L. Waymaster.)