Power of eminent domain is in the new energy policy.

[madfloridian]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/16/politics/16ENER.html?ex=1064289600&en=242770535f497f69&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

SNIP...."I have been warned by some of our people not to do it," said Senator Pete V. Domenici, a New Mexico Republican who is chairman of the House-Senate conference that is working on the measure. "But I am not going to go into this conference frightened to death of the idea of having to make some compromise with the House on eminent domain."

The House bill would enable the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve power line routes that have been blocked or delayed by a state, if the agency found the new lines would significantly ease congestion along the power grid. Companies building the high-voltage lines would be able to exercise eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way if they compensated land owners. The Senate bill does not allow for such intervention...."

I wonder if this is already happening on a certain scale like this episode in Tampa by TECO:
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/02/Opinion/Utility_poles_should_.shtml
We saw this protest by the neighborhood on TV. Lest you think it was a less influential part of town, it did not look that way. These were lovely homes, and the poles are just huge, very broad, more like a monument type thing. They can do this legally, too.

SNIP...."We hope the Tampa Electric Co. is serious about removing those monstrous utility poles in Egypt Lake. The 12-story poles never should have been placed in a residential neighborhood. And the way TECO went about it - not alerting the community it planned to disfigure - showed contempt for residents....."

[salin]

1. A very real issue

One of the potential leverage points to build opposition to the abominable - 'let energy companies hold consumers and taxpayers hostage' bill.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=375948&mesg_id=375948

[w13rd0]

2. Don't you mean...

...holding them 'hostile'?

[salin]

4. While it is hostile

I think back to the manipulated energy crisis - ratepayers - were held hostage by the corporations.

[salin]

5. Or maybe it is the:

"HostileTakeOverEnergy" bill. :shrug:

[bigtree]

3. kick

:kick:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. High powered energy cables

near a home are a very real health hazard. The way to go is to go local instead of long-range transmission, which is inefficient.

[madfloridian]

7. It sounds like the energy companies could override state and local regs.

Am I right there?