U.S. Rep. Ron Estes representing Kansas' 4th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Rep. Ron Estes representing Kansas' 4th Congressional District | Official U.S. House headshot
The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided not to move forward with the proposed Midwest-Plains National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC), which would have affected Kansas, including Edwards and Pawnee counties in the 4th District.
Representative Estes expressed satisfaction with the decision, stating, "I am committed to protecting private property rights for Kansans and am glad to see the Department of Energy reverse course on their disastrous proposal for the Midwest-Plains NIETC." He criticized the proposal for its lack of transparency and failure to involve local stakeholders.
Rep. Estes played a significant role in opposing the proposal. In September, he helped introduce legislation aimed at preventing federal land acquisition related to the Midwest-Plains NIETC. Additionally, he sent a letter to DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm highlighting concerns about potential federal land grabs and urging a reconsideration of the project's impact on Kansans.
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