More than 120 attend meeting to oppose Clean Line

PARKERSBURG — Northwest Iowa group Preservation of Rural Iowa Alliance held a community meeting in efforts to stop the Rock Island Clean Line proposal last Monday (Nov. 25).
More than 120 area citizens gathered just three days after RICL’s informational meeting at the Grundy Center Community Center.
Residents from Ackley, Aplington, Alexander, Parkersburg, Grundy Center, Hudson and plenty more petitioned against the private company installing a 375-mile high voltage transmission line through northern Iowa.
Grundy County had the majority of citizens there, as Clean Line Energy Partners LLC of Houston, Texas, has 38 miles routed through the county.
“This is your meeting tonight,” said Carolyn Sheridan, president of the alliance. “How did you feel about the meeting last week? Was that your meeting? No ... we’re going to make it our meeting.”
One landowner questioned what right the company had to impose on people’s property.
“We’ve spent a lifetime building, paying for and owning the land, and some company comes in and thinks they can do whatever they want,” he said.