Back To Court For Proposed Illinois Power Line

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  — The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed a ruling that had stopped construction of a massive power line through eastern Illinois.

The court’s 7-0 ruling last week affects 35 Edgar County eminent domain actions by Ameren Transmission Co. to obtain land for the remaining section of a 375-mile cross-state power line.

The 30-mile segment of the 345,000-volt line from the town of Kansas to Indiana is the last of nine segments to be installed. The completion date is late 2019.

Justice Bob Thomas said in the ruling that a circuit court did not have jurisdiction when it ruled that landowners were denied due process in the eminent domain procedure and because of that the court has ordered new proceedings.