JEFFERSON CITY — Today, Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, filed Senate Bill 839 in response to a proposed Arkansas power line by Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) that would pass through southern Barry and McDonald counties.

On Jan. 17, an Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC) Administrative Law judge endorsed Route 109 as the preferred route to address power delivery in northwest Arkansas. Originally, SWEPCO proposed six routes: five in Arkansas and Route 109. The route would require a 150-foot-wide right-of-way with six towers per mile, each about 150 feet tall. To erect the towers, 50-foot-deep foundation holes would have to be dug. SWEPCO’s preferred route was actually Route 33 through Benton and Carroll counties.

“Last fall, I promised if this route became a real possibility that I would fight it,” said Sen. Sater. “This bill is keeping that promise to my constituents. It protects their property rights and sends a clear message to SWEPCO and the Arkansas PSC that they need to address an Arkansas problem in Arkansas.”

Sen. Sater’s bill would prohibit SWEPCO from using eminent domain, meaning the company would be unable to forcibly take the land needed for construction of the transmission line. Instead, it would have to get the approval of every land owner along the route. Those landowners could refuse to sell their land and the Arkansas PSC and SWEPCO would be forced to look for an alternate route.

“No public hearings have taken place in Barry or McDonald counties and no Missouri citizen would receive power from this line,” said Sen. Sater. “With no Missouri interest in this line, it simply doesn’t make sense to run the line through our state.” 

The order from the Arkansas PSC judge now goes to a three-member commission of the APSC, which will either accept or reject the order. If the APSC doesn’t act, the order goes into effect in 30 days.