Regulatory Processes

OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION GRANTS PLAINS AND EASTERN CLEAN LINE OKLAHOMA LLC PUBLIC UTILITY STATUS

Gavel On October 28, 2011, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) issued an order that designates Plains and Eastern Clean Line Oklahoma LLC (Plains & Eastern Clean Line) a public utility in Oklahoma. We are very pleased with the Commission's order and are thankful to the OCC, staff and other parties for the extensive consideration they gave our application. Throughout the OCC process, Plains & Eastern Clean Line received substantial support from Oklahoma landowners, community leaders, legislators, and environmental groups. We appreciate the many people who have devoted time and effort to working with us. Oklahoma understands energy and continues to be a great place to invest in and grow new businesses. We are happy to be working with Governor Fallin and her administration to facilitate actions that extend and solidify Oklahoma's place as an energy leader.  

"Clean Line’s project is another great example of Oklahoma’s strong legacy as an energy leader. Energy projects like the Plains & Eastern Clean Line are opportunities to develop Oklahoma’s resources, create jobs, and spur energy innovation. Enhanced electric transmission is a key ingredient of energy policy, and I am proud of Oklahoma’s leadership in pushing that forward." ---Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin

  The OCC approval is a critical step in Plains & Eastern Clean Line’s efforts to connect 7,000 megawatts of clean energy from the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles and southwest Kansas to consumers across the Mid-South and Southeast regions. The project will bring billions of dollars of investment and significant public benefits including thousands of jobs, improved energy security, and cleaner air and water.  

Developing infrastructure like the Plains & Eastern Clean Line is a long term undertaking. Clean Line is committed to a transparent process that will allow us to build a project that respects landowner rights, preserves important natural areas and strengthens local communities. We will continue to work with the OCC, as well as policymakers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee, national stakeholders, and local communities throughout the project area to achieve these goals. Construction is set to begin in 2014 and operation of the Plains & Eastern Clean Line could start as early as 2017. For more information about the order, please click here to read the press release.

“Oklahoma’s abundant wind resources provide the possibility of additional income from royalties for Oklahoma farmers, ranchers and other landowners. Good wages will be available from construction jobs as the power line is built, and more wages will be paid to Oklahomans for the permanent jobs needed to operate the line and its related facilities. All-in-all, the evidence in this case showed Clean Line will have an impact on our state surpassing $4 billion.” ---Oklahoma Corporation Commission Chair Dana Murphy

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE'S RECOMMENDATION IN OKLAHOMA

On June 30, 2011, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) recommended that Plains and Eastern Clean Line Oklahoma LLC be granted utility status in the State of Oklahoma. We are very pleased with the ALJ's recommendation and we look forward to further review of our application by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. We are continuing to work hard with our stakeholders as we move the Plains & Eastern Clean Line forward and appreciate all of the support we have received. To read the ALJ's recommendation, please click here.

OKLAHOMA CORPORATION COMMISSION HEARING

In February, the Plains & Eastern Clean Line team participated in a hearing on our application to become a public utility before Judge Jacqueline Miller, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) in Oklahoma City. The application is a crucial step in the development of the transmission line and is part of Clean Line’s effort to be accountable to local authorities as we move forward with the transmission line project.

  After much hard work and negotiation, Clean Line was able to address the concerns of the great majority of the parties involved in the case. Multiple parties signed on to a Stipulation Agreement and only one remaining party opposed our application during the hearing. Clean Line and two parties representing property owners were also able to reach an agreement on a private settlement. In the agreement, Clean Line commits to specific actions in order to treat landowners fairly and respectfully. If Clean Line’s application is approved, we pledge to provide Oklahoma landowners with the option of annual payments for acquired right of way. In the case of a dispute over the value of an easement, we will give the landowner the choice of binding arbitration as an alternative to a judicial process. Clean Line also provided the OCC with a Code of Conduct which details how Clean Line employees and contractors must treat landowners in a fair and respectful manner. You can download a copy of our Code of Conduct here.

There was significant public participation in the OCC hearings. We appreciate many of you for attending and for calling to state your support for the Plains & Eastern Clean Line. In addition to many others, State Congressman Gus Blackwell, who represents District 61 and the Oklahoma Panhandle, came from the Capitol to show his support for the development of the project. School superintendents, economic development directors, and community leaders from the Panhandle and other parts of Oklahoma showed up and called in to let Judge Miller and the Commissioners know what the construction of the Plains & Eastern Clean Line will mean to their towns and to their schools.  

We will be sure to let you know when we find out the outcome of the hearings. You can also come back to this page for this and other project updates.

ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HEARING

Members of the Clean Line Energy team participated in a hearing with the Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) in December 2010. In its order, the Arkansas Commission supported Clean Line's efforts; however, it did not approve our application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity at this time. We are encouraged that the PSC noted a void in the current electricity infrastructure to transmit more renewable power. We appreciate the outstanding support we have received from Arkansas manufacturers, state leaders and citizens. Clean Line plans to be a supportive partner in the ongoing development of the growing wind energy industry in Arkansas. We realize the significant regulatory and permitting challenges in Arkansas and understand it is a different process than in other states. We look forward to working with regulatory authorities and state leaders as the project evolves.

PLAINS & EASTERN CLEAN LINE REQUESTS A CONTINUANCE OF OKLAHOMA HEARING AS PROJECT CONTINUES TO BUILD ALLIANCES 

Clean Line reached a settlement in December 2010 with a number of parties in our application to be a public utility in the State of Oklahoma, including the Southern Great Plains Property Rights Coalition and the Coalition of Oklahoma Surface and Mineral Owners. Clean Line is currently working on a settlement agreement with other parties. In light of these continued efforts, Clean Line has requested that the Administrative Law Judge in our Oklahoma Corporation Commission application to become a public utility in Oklahoma continue the hearing at a later date. The hearing dates have been set to take place on March 1, 2, and 3 of 2010.

Clean Line Energy is committed to developing the Plains & Eastern Clean Line project in a methodical, transparent and collaborative manner. We believe that having fair, open relationships with landowners, and all stakeholders, is crucial. Clean Line believes the Plains & Eastern project is an important and viable solution that will enable the growth of the energy industry in Oklahoma, while satisfying the growing demand for clean energy in the southeastern United States. The Plains & Eastern Clean Line will bring significant public benefits to Oklahoma including improving energy security, enabling the development of thousands of megawatts of renewable power, creating thousands of jobs, and providing clean air and water.

Clean Line Files Settlement Agreement in Oklahoma, Collaborating with Landowners 

Clean Line Energy is committed to building the Plains & Eastern Clean Line the right way and is developing the project in a methodical, transparent and collaborative manner. We believe that having fair, open relationships with landowners, and all stakeholders, is crucial. On November 24, 2010 Clean Line reached a settlement with a number of parties in our application to be a public utility in the State of Oklahoma, including the Southern Great Plains Property Rights Coalition and the Coalition of Oklahoma Surface and Mineral Owners.

This agreement outlines some of the ways that Clean Line will work with landowners and ensures that each person will be treated fairly. Among other things, Clean Line has agreed to provide a copy of the commission order approving the settlement agreement to each landowner whom we work with along the route of the Plains & Eastern Clean Line in Oklahoma. In addition, the settlement agreement provides alternative payment structures for landowners in Oklahoma, and allows a land owner to elect to have the amount of compensation determined through arbitration. Clean Line was very pleased to resolve concerns of both the Southern Great Plains Property Rights Coalition and the Coalition of Oklahoma Surface and Mineral Owners and was pleased that they have agreed to withdraw their objections to Clean Line becoming a public utility in Oklahoma. They were very patient throughout this process and we really appreciate how they worked in good faith to come to an agreement that is fair for everyone involved. To read the settlement agreement, please click here.