Iowa Coalition

Need for more transmission

Transmission providers are planning several projects across the state of Iowa in the coming years to maintain reliable and affordable electricity.

Siting opportunity

While new transmission projects are critical to maintaining a reliable electric grid, they could impact thousands of agricultural properties. By utilizing highway rights-of-way, transmission developers can limit acquisitions of private land and instead primarily work with one landowner, the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).

In a recent survey conducted for NextGen Highways, over 82% of Iowans expressed support for placing transmission lines in highway and interstate corridors rather than through private land.

Siting prohibition

The Iowa DOT prohibits overhead transmission in interstate rights-of-way. While transmission is allowed in state highway rights-of-way, interstate rights-of-way are typically wider and more able to accommodate transmission.

After considerable engagement from NextGen Highways, the Iowa DOT is proposing to allow transmission in highway rights-of-way in limited circumstances. However, the proposed policy still poses barriers to transmission development.

To promote the use of existing corridors for transmission development and avoid impacts to private landowners, Iowa DOT can update its policy in the following ways:

• Fully remove prohibition on transmission development
  The Iowa DOT can update its policy to allow transmission lines in highway rights-of-way in all circumstances, except as deemed necessary to protect public safety and proper functioning of the highway.
• Lower occupancy fee for transmission developers
  Iowa DOT can update its occupancy fee to be cost-competitive with what it costs a transmission developer to secure easements on private land.