Rep. Mann, Sens. Moran, Marshall, Successfully End Federal Land Grab in Proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01), alongside Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will no longer pursue its proposed Midwest-Plains and Plains-Southwest National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) in Kansas. The announcement comes as DOE begins Phase 3 of the NIETC Designation Process, which included refining geographic boundaries of proposed NIETCs. The Members applauded the decision and released the following statements:
“Kansans made it clear from the very beginning that we were not interested in the federal government seizing our private land,” said Rep. Mann. “I heard countless concerns from Kansans who were displeased with the Department of Energy’s overly vague proposal and the lack of engagement with landowners. I worked to force the Department of Energy to provide clarity and introduced legislation to prevent the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to seize any private property for the corridor. I also made it clear that the federal government should not override decisions made by Kansas state regulators who are more directly impacted by the proposal. Today’s announcement is a huge win for Kansans, and I’m glad our voices were heard in stopping this federal overreach.”
“Kansans have made their voices heard – the Department of Energy has withdrawn its proposal and there will no longer be a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor across Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “This is great news for the impacted landowners and farmers and ranchers. I am grateful to the Kansans who partnered with me to send a clear message to the federal government that it cannot take action to overrule state regulators. These are the decisions that should be left up to Kansans, not Washington.”
“Kansans living in the path of this proposed transmission line corridor spoke loud and clear: they do not want the federal government dictating what happens in their backyard,” said Sen. Marshall. “Kansans should always determine what is built in Kansas, not federal bureaucrats. This proposal represented a dangerous overreach of federal authority, turning our backyards into pathways for delivering energy to the coastal elites. As soon as we heard of this project, we immediately went to the DOE and fought back. We are glad to see Kansan’s voices were heard at the highest levels. ”
“I am pleased to see the U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will not designate any portion of Kansas as a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC),” said Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland. “For nearly two years, Kansas Farm Bureau has fought the NIETC rules and then both of the proposed NIETC designations in Kanas because it would override the authority of state regulators and give developers an unfair edge in negotiations with landowners. I am grateful for the leadership of Rep. Tracey Mann and Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall to help keep NIETC designations out of Kansas. I am also thankful for our members and others who provided valuable feedback throughout the process and secured a huge victory for landowners across the state.”
In September 2024, Rep. Mann and Sens. Moran and Marshall introduced legislation to prevent the federal government form using taxpayer dollars to seize property for the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor. The members also secured an agreement from DOE to extend the comment period regarding the NIETC proposal in Kansas.
Rep. Mann also sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in July 2024 urging DOE to address the Kansans’ concerns before moving forward in the designation process.
