Opponents of the Grain Belt Express power-line project are disappointed to learn the governor of Missouri is now supporting the project. Nixon on Wednesday announced Clean Line Energy Partners has promised to adopt what he described as landowner protections. (read more here)

The project would transmit electricity from wind farms in Kansas, across northern Missouri and Illinois to Indiana. Electricity would be available for Missouri utilities.

The group Block Grain Belt Express issued this statement in response to the governor’s endorsement.

“We are disappointed that our Governor has turned his back on farmers and ranchers, and on individual property rights. Governor Nixon has pledged support for setting a precedent to allow a for-profit company to claim eminent domain and take the private property of Missourians for out-of-state corporate gain. The evidence was clear in the first Grain Belt Express battle at the PSC that any purported benefits were handily outweighed by the harm done to Missouri farmers and ranchers. Missouri Farm Bureau has been unwavering in their opposition to Grain Belt. We feel Governor Nixon needs to let the public service commissioners he appointed do their jobs free from political pressure.”