09/02/2026
💥 Local community engagement is growing and I am HERE FOR IT!! 💥
Monday night at a 765-kV Line Town Hall event held at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station regarding the proposed BECI Transmission Line Project, the seats were almost FULL!! 😃 I was there, too, and participated in a panel discussion which included community leaders, local activists, state and local lawmakers and political candidates, to discuss what we have done and what we will be doing in response to the proposed mega transmission line.
❇️ I shared my stance: I do NOT support the BECI 765kV transmission project as currently proposed by MGS!! Like most of you, I have felt blindsided by the size and scope of the BECI project and overwhelmed by the accelerated speed this process has taken! Even as a state senator in the region, I did not have a first contact with the builder, MGS, about their project proposal until July 28th!! Every day since then, I have worked diligently to learn the details of this proposed project, the complex process of Public Service Committee (PSC) approval and how I can use my role as a legislator to help advocate for the concerned voices of opposition by my constituents - from both sides of the aisle!!
➡️ In the past month, my office alone has received over 500 contacts from constituents – phone calls, emails, messages and letters – all about the BECI Project!!
And last night’s event was just the latest of many senate district 14 events I have attended in the last month where the BECI line has been discussed - including multiple county board meetings, towns association meetings, a Farm Bureau gathering, a No 765kV meeting in Arlington, and a Chamber of Commerce meeting. I will continue to attend district events to listen to and talk with concerned constituents about the BECI line as we navigate the future of this proposal.
NOTE:
✅ I have already signed on to Senate Bill 1125, authored by Sen. Pfaff (D) and Rep. Johnson (D) which would set standards for prioritizing where new mega transmission projects, like BECI, would go. The bill would bolster the requirement that, when feasible, mega transmission lines should follow existing utility corridors or follow highways or railroads.
✅ I will continue to do research to determine if something more can and should be done with our current policies to address the influx of new, mega transmission lines. (While the 2025-26 legislative session ended in March, my colleagues and I are working on getting appropriate legislation ready for introduction for the next legislative session, which begins in January.)
FINALLY:
✴️ The BECI Transmission Line route is NOT yet final, and the project has not yet been submitted to the PSC for their review - proposed timeline for submission is early 2027. The review process will take approximately 12-18 months so let’s keep learning, sharing, and working together as a community to thoughtfully address our state’s projected energy load increase - while also faithfully protecting our environment for future generations.
WE are the ancestors of tomorrow, so we must assume this responsibility with great care. 💚
