Nebraska Bird Partnership

People who live along the proposed route have criticized a new Axtell-to-Kansas transmission line that the Nebraska Public Power District plans to build in eastern Kearney and Franklin Counties.  About 85 people attended a hearing Wednesday in Minden.

After NPPD officials reviewed details of the project, the hearing was opened for questions and comments. All those who spoke appeared to oppose the project.

“It appears from a land and wildlife perspective you chose the most destructive and least environmentally friendly route, and you have completely ignored alleged environmental commitments,” said Betty Choquette of rural Upland, Neb.  “NPPD made a promise that you are not keeping or following, and you are taking a path that is most destructive to today’s and future generations of people, wildlife and plant life,” she said. “What’s ironic is we have government programs to help farmers conserve grassland. They pay people to conserve and then on the other end we have utility companies tearing right through the middle of the prairie. It makes no sense.”

Read more about the transmission line hearing from the Omaha World-Herald.