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Residents report large turnout at PUC hearing; speakers warn Excel has filed motions against landowners
Summary
Speakers said about 250 people attended a Public Utilities Commission hearing and that Excel has filed motions seeking immediate possession against roughly 13 landowners; county officials declined to comment due to pending litigation.
Community representatives told the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 10 that regional public opposition to an Excel Energy proposal drew heavy turnout at a PUC hearing and that some landowners face expedited legal filings.
"We had close to 250 people show up. There was time for 55 people to speak," said Carrie Giblets of the Albert County Environmental Alliance, describing the previous night's PUC hearing and praising the community's participation.
Don Gray, a local landowner, told commissioners that Excel had filed motions against about 13 landowners seeking to modify immediate possession — a procedural request that, according to Gray, would hasten possession of property for the project. "They want our land and they want it now," Gray said, adding that the filings were expected to be filed in court that day though he said the county had not yet received hard copies.
The board declined to comment on the litigation. The chair noted that the three commissioners "could not attend that because of litigation" and thanked county staff for their work at the PUC hearing.
No formal action was taken by the board on the matter at the Dec. 10 meeting. The statements in this article reflect public comment given to the board; the claims about filings and motions are reported as asserted by meeting speakers and were not independently verified at the meeting.
