SOO Green power transmission project will hold rescheduled county meetings online next week

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Public information meetings regarding a proposed $2.5 billion underground power transmission line that would run through Charles City were postponed in March because of the coronavirus, but they have been rescheduled as online meetings that will be held next week.

The proposed 349-mile underground transmission line would have the capacity to carry 525 kilovolts of electricity from wind power and solar power in the Mason City area to near Chicago, running across Floyd County on the way.

The project, being proposed by Direct Connect Development Co. (DC DevCO), would run along Canadian Pacific Railroad right of way, but Iowa law requires that the project developers notify adjacent landowners of the project.

A meeting for Chickasaw County residents is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 4.

The meeting for Floyd County residents is scheduled for noon on Thursday, May 7.

People can participate in any of the webinars, regardless of where they live, but each county meeting may have information and other attendees specific to that county.

Webinars will be held at noon and 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday next week.

Advance registration is required to get a link to the webinar and advance access to meeting information.

The web link to register for the webinar is: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5721961171373805323.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing Information about joining the webinar.

The web link will give video access to the meeting. Viewers may use the computer’s sound system or a telephone for the audio.

The public meetings, for those affected property owners and anyone else interested, will provide details of the proposed project as well as information regarding the legal rights of affected property owners.

“For landowners adjacent to existing rail corridors, SOO Green is pursuing cooperation agreements to address issues such as drain tiles and road crossing access,” the company said.

By burying the transmission cables on property already owned or controlled by railroads, instead of stringing them on high-rise towers, the project would limit environmental impact and hopes to avoid landowner and neighbor resistance, according to information from the company.

“After the transmission cables are installed, the area along the railroad will be restored to the same condition prior to construction. With the underground installation, residents will not notice any changes to their community or landscape, the company said.

The lines would also be more secure from weather-related power disruptions such as those caused by ice storms or high winds, it added.

The primary route would run along Canadian Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Mason City through Charles City, through New Hampton over to Marquette, down along the Iowa side of the Mississippi River to Sabula, under the Mississippi River and then run to Byron, Illinois, finally ending in Plano, Illinois.