Grain Belt Express Clean Line Project Gains Appellate Court Approval

Based in Missouri, Douglas Healy is an established Springfield attorney who has two decades of experience working with energy and utility companies on a wide range of legal issues. Focusing much of his efforts on the nonprofit Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission, attorney Douglas Healy also represents a private clientele that includes Invenergy in Chicago.

Mr. Healy successfully represented the latter firm in a late 2019 Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District case in which it was decided that the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) has the authority necessary to grant a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) for the proposed Grain Belt Express Clean Line Project.

This wind energy transmission line is set to bring energy from western Kansas to consumers and utilities spanning Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. It was initially approved by the Missouri PSC, which issued its CCN in March that reflected a designation of the project as one in the public interest. With CCN authorization in place, developers have the right to invoke eminent domain when constructing the transmission line through private property.

With just under 10 acres of land required for the project (not including land situated under the wires) the benefits statewide will be significant. Approximately 40 Missouri utilities have already agreed to purchase power generated through the project, with the estimated annual cost savings pegged at $12.8 million.