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Linn County registers support for state energy-storage and transmission bill after split board debate
Summary
Linn County supervisors voted Monday to register the county in support of House File 834 and companion Senate File 585, bills that would change utility rate-making rules, promote energy storage and transmission investment and create an energy-and-water infrastructure revolving loan fund for eligible local governments.
The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to register in support of House File 834 and its companion Senate File 585, state bills that modify rate-making for electric generation and transmission, encourage energy storage and transmission investment, and establish an energy-and-water infrastructure revolving loan fund for eligible cities and counties.
Darren Gage, director of policy administration, summarized the bill for the board. "It establishes an energy and water infrastructure- infrastructure revolving loan fund for which cities and counties are eligible," Gage said; he also described proposals to change when utilities may recover costs related to construction of power generation and to lower the threshold for when rate-making principles apply to new generating facilities and storage projects.
The bill also contains language that would give an incumbent electric transmission owner the first right of refusal to build, own and maintain certain new transmission lines that connect to an existing facility. One supervisor said he opposed granting a first right of refusal because he believes it can shut out competition and raise costs: "I don't support giving energy companies the first right of refusal... I believe it shuts out competition, which can lead to higher costs," the supervisor said.
Another supervisor and a board member (Sammy) argued for support, citing the importance of prioritizing in-state companies and Iowa workers for transmission work and the county's economic-development interests related to large data-center investments that require reliable power. "I think it's important for us to have some certainty, especially for companies in our county, like ITC, that are gonna do a lot of this work... and those data centers and the consumers, that we know that there's gonna be enough energy, to these projects," Sammy said.
After discussion the board voted to register in support of House File 834 and Senate File 585.
