Harry Reid Proposes Power Grid Take Over By Feds
Posted on March 7, 2009
-By Warner Todd Huston
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) has just proposed that the federal government should take over the power grid in the country so that it might string power lines all across the land. At least that would be the outcome if his new proposal comes to fruition.
Reid wants created by federal fiat new “special power lines to carry renewable energy.” Further, he proposes that these “special power lines” be placed where the federal government says they should be placed. He says that to do this the Federal government would “be able override states” in the placement of these power lines.
The Federal government would be able override states and direct where the lines would go and who would pay for them.
It would be defacto control of the entire power grid by order of Congress.
But the plan raises many questions: how is it the American way to have Congress override states and force companies to build things they did not wish to build? How is it Congress’ place to say who should be forced to pay for these projects? Since when did Congress become civil engineers so that they are able to undertake such a project?
It’s the hubris of Congress on display once again.
I think that improving the national power grid is essential for improving our national securityn and for econimic growth. Although our power blackouts and brownouts have been caused by natural disasters, they also may be caused by terrorists and by hostile governments.
The Federal government may claim right of eminent domain, as all levels of government are know to do when government wants a new project. The right of eminent domain is never popular with the “little people” who have to give in to it, and its use isn’t limited to Federal government. Towns, cities, counties and states, and the Federal government use this power to build roads, bridges, highways, schools, prisons, airports, military bases, electric power lines, natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines,etc.
Nevertheless, it’s hard to believe that the Federal government will put “special power lines” just anywhere. I imagine a special power line will not be placed down the middle of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., nor through New York City, nor through the center of Reno, Nevada. Probably Senator Harry Reid would agree to this assertion, if anyone were to ask him. He may be out of touch with Nevada, but he isn’t crazy.
These special power lines will be placed in the gorgeous countryside of America, where they have always been placed. They will ruin the landscape that we all enjoy and want to maintain as pristine. Loss of wilderness and the uglifaction of America is the price we pay for national security and economic growth. Well, these power lines could be buried, but how much more would that cost?
Actually, the land under power lines is open space, a highway for deer and other animals that eat the gardens of suburbanites.