Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

House Committee Takes up Eminent Domain

NHPR Staff Photo

 

The House judiciary committee heard testimony today about three bills that would make it more difficult for a private utility to use eminent domain to acquire land. 

Opponents of the Northern Pass project sponsor the bills, saying the planned electric transmission lines would not benefit to the state.

Republican representative Baldasaro from Londonderry gave testimony in favor of tightening up eminent domain rules.

Baldasaro who had land of his own taken by eminent domain for the new access road to Manchester Airport, says he believes eminent domain is only justified "if it’s for a road, if it’s for a bridge, but for a public utilities... that’s wrong, to go in and take people’s dreams away that bought that land for a reason."

The chairman of the Judiciary committee says legislators will advance carefully on this issue, as there are seven different bills that have been put before various committees, that would reconfigure the eminent domain rules in different ways.

Opponents to the tighter rules argue they could impact future energy projects, like the construction of wind-mills. 

The senate has announced that it will vote on a similar bill at the end of January.

 

Sam Evans-Brown has been working for New Hampshire Public Radio since 2010, when he began as a freelancer. He shifted gears in 2016 and began producing Outside/In, a podcast and radio show about “the natural world and how we use it.” His work has won him several awards, including two regional Edward R. Murrow awards, one national Murrow, and the Overseas Press Club of America's award for best environmental reporting in any medium. He studied Politics and Spanish at Bates College, and before reporting was variously employed as a Spanish teacher, farmer, bicycle mechanic, ski coach, research assistant, a wilderness trip leader and a technical supporter.

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.