Discussion at the close of Tuesday’s Barton County Commission agenda meeting turned to the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.

The proposed energy corridor up to five miles wide would make room for massive power lines that would cut through part of Kansas, including parts of Barton, Pawnee and Russell counties. It is one of 10 proposed electric transmission corridors that may be designated in the United States by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Barton County Counselor Patrick Hoffman opened a discussion Tuesday morning with commissioners and a few members of the public. 

By the end of the day, Barton County had scheduled a town hall meeting with Sen. Roger Marshall’s representative, Katie Sawyer, for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 20, in Courtroom A of the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main, Third Floor, Great Bend. 

Sawyer is already scheduled for a similar meeting in Pawnee County set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Larned Community Center, 1500 Toles Ave.

“This concept hasn’t been built yet,” Hoffman said. The corridor proposed looks like the one proposed for the planned Grain Belt Express electricity transmission line.

The feds have the power to acquire land by eminent domain when it comes to electrical lines, Hoffman noted. However, federal agencies are required to ask for public input.

“We will have a chance to create a document,” Hoffman said. “We should listen to others and go on record to the Department of Energy.”

The county does not have regulatory authority to use zoning to stop a transmission line, he said.

Commissioner Shawn Hutchinson said he is “adamantly opposed” to the use of eminent domain. “I don’t know of any benefit to the county,” he said. It is called a National Interest corridor because the energy will likely be sold outside of Kansas.

He added, “We need more people moving here, not moving away.”

Commissioner Tricia Schlessiger said energy companies will follow the money. Any corridor designation will open projects up for federal funding.

The commissioners and others had questions, such as why a five-mile zone is needed and what that entails. Would people have to move their homes or have massive power lines within sight and earshot of their homes? Could farming continue in the zone?

“These are the kind of things you fight in eminent domain,” Hoffman said.

Schlessiger asked if the county can oppose this. The commissioners suggested a joint meeting to include Pawnee and Rush County officials.

Said Hoffman: “We want to coordinate our efforts.”

It was noted that some green energy companies have been offering to lease land. If land is taken by eminent domain the owner receives fair market value. “It’s a court determination,” Hoffman said.

This story was updated on Aug. 15 to reflect a change in location for the town hall meeting at the courthouse on Aug. 20.