6 years, 11 months ago by Scott Hardy
Marion and four other NE MO counties wanted group involved
A citizens group, opposed to the Mark Twain Transmission Project, won't be part of a lawsuit by Ameren Transmission Company against Marion and four other Northeast Missouri counties.
A Cole County judge ruled Tuesday that Neighbors United won't be able to join the suit, denying a motion by Marion, Knox, Shelby, Adair and Schuyler counties, that had asked to have the group be part of the case. The counties are being sued by Ameren because they wouldn't give the company permission last year to use right-of-ways to build the 435 Kilowatt power line, after Ameren was granted permission to build by the Missouri Public Service Commission. A Missouri appeals court gave Neighbors United a victory in March, when it ruled that the PSC should have had Ameren get permission from the counties first, before granting approval. That decision has been appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Ameren Transmission recently signed an agreement with Northeast Power of Palmyra to change 90 per cent of the project's route, using Northeast's existing right-of-ways. That agreement also needs to be approved by the counties and the PSC.
