State Rep. Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) on Wednesday encouraged residents of Branch County to submit comments to ITC Michigan on a new power line that the transmission company will soon be installing through the county. The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) recently approved a new transmission line called the “Helix to Hiple” line which stretches over 50 miles long from Calhoun County to the southern end of Branch County.

However, the MPSC’s approval requires that ITC must consider landowners’ specific requests for minor modifications to the line route. Later next month, ITC Michigan will file an MPSC-mandated memorandum detailing how impacted landowners can submit minor route modification requests. Wortz emphasized the importance of impacted landowners making their voices heard.

“If ITC’s leadership would willingly work with landowners in the area and be more accommodating to their concerns, both they and the landowners would benefit,” Wortz said. “That’s why I am encouraging Branch County residents to reach out and ask ITC to consider their concerns. Listening to landowners’ input would help ITC avoid thousands of dollars in wasted legal expenses and perhaps even earn them the support of the public. By placing transmission lines along roads, public lands, or the edges of private properties, ITC would help maintain both energy expansion and fair practices for landowners.”

While Wortz has urged ITC Michigan to voluntarily work with landowners, she also introduced legislation earlier this term that would give landowners the option to challenge eminent domain for electric transmission lines. Wortz’s House Bill 4526 would eliminate state courts’ deference to MPSC determinations regarding the public necessity of electric transmission lines during eminent domain challenges. Under the legislation, judges would instead be instructed to prioritize routes around property boundaries and within or adjacent to public land and existing rights-of-way.

Wortz pointed to the ongoing controversy over the new “Helix to Hiple” line as what prompted her to introduce this legislation.

“This process has highlighted a number of issues with Michigan’s eminent domain laws and the transmission project approval process,” Wortz said. “I continue to hear from more and more people that I represent about issues they have had with ITC. While I am grateful that the MPSC is requiring ITC to be more considerate of landowners’ input, this incident has made it obvious that we need a legislative fix to hold these energy companies accountable.”