Grain Belt energy project sues to seize land in Callaway County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A company that wants to build high-voltage electric lines to carry wind energy through Missouri has sued a Callaway County landowner for the right to use his land.
Grain Belt Express, LLC., filed the lawsuit against Dustin Hudson of Auxvasse on Friday in county court. In its eminent domain petition, the company alleges it offered Hudson fair market value and tried to negotiate after he rejected those terms.
Hudson continued to say no to Grain Belt, the petition states.
Grain Belt says it needs an easement on Hudson's land to build and maintain its electric lines. The controversial project has drawn opposition from any local landowners, who say they don't want high-voltage lines crossing their property.
The federal government canceled a $5 billion for the project last year, but Grain Belt said the work will proceed with private funding. Missouri's attorney general also demanded documents from the company as part of an investigation.
The project will cross Missouri to deliver power from western wind fields to Illinois. The route will run through Mid-Missouri and a connection is planned from north of Centralia to near Kingdom City. That route includes land in Monroe, Audrain and Callaway counties, according to the Grain Belt website.
