By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma agency approves transmission project
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has granted public utility status to a Texas company that wants to build an electricity transmission system from wind energy farms in the Oklahoma Panhandle to Tennessee.
The three-member commission voted 2-0 Friday to give Clean Lines Energy of Houston status as an electricity transmission-only public utility. Commissioner Patrice Douglas was absent.
Clean Line is planning a $3.5 billion transmission system across Oklahoma and Arkansas to serve western Tennessee. Some local private property owners in Oklahoma had opposed the company's request because they say grant public utility status might give the company eminent domain authority to acquire land for the project.
The commission's order says it does not confer eminent domain status to Clean Line.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.