Anti-Utility Activity Hits Wall
As in so many other jurisdictions; i.e. Detroit with the DRIC project, an attempt to modify the Public Service in New Hampshire’s desire to acquire property by eminent domain has been limited. After passing the House, a Senate committee would not send a bill out of committee despite massive support in the State.
Part of our democracy is premised on electing officials in a republican form of government, leaving decisions to those we elect. Generally, we have no vote on specific legislation. That is for referenda in those States that allow referendum votes. Sometimes it may not provide a response to what the majority of a community wants, but that is why we are a republican democracy.
On Dec. 8 the Judiciary Committee met again to straighten out the mess. The result was nothing short of farcical. The committee, composed of supposedly intelligent adults, could not seem to understand the words, "or a participant-funded (private) transmission facility," added to a statute forbidding the use of eminent domain for the construction of a generating facility. Committee members did, however, agree to substitute a three-page amendment filled with instructions enumerating the procedures needed to take private property. So, they turned a bill meant to protect our private property from corporate, for-profit taking into an instruction manual on how to take our property.
PSNH representatives were at the hearing and were most certainly pleased with the outcome. They should be, for they have been oh-so-generous with campaign donations to the senators who submitted the how-to amendment.
