NexGen Highways, a nonprofit initiative convened by the Great Plains Institute, has been working with a coalition of Iowa organizations to pass legislation that will make it possible to site transmission lines in controlled access and interstate highway right-of-way rather than on private property.
This session, HF-736 made it to the commerce committee, but was not brought up by the committee and, thereby, missed the funnel. Efforts continue to add the legislation as an amendment to other bills that are still active this session.
Currently, the carbon pipeline bill focused on landowner rights passed the House and is moving through the Senate. An amendment is being added to it that will require transmission developers to pay for any damages to crops. The NexGen Highways legislation also protects private property rights and Senator Bousselot is considering how the NexGen Highways legislation can be included in the amendment.
Significant progress has been made in establishing solid relationships with the Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Office, the Iowa Utilities Commission and legislators.
If the legislation fails to be passed this year, it will be re-introduced next year. In the meantime, relationship building and education on the topic continue.
77% of Iowans who responded said that if new transmission lines are needed, they support them being built along highways and interstates.
A survey of 1200 Iowans was just completed to determine how folks feel about siting transmission lines along our highways. 77% of respondents said that if new transmission lines are needed, they support them being built along highways and interstates. And when specifically asked if they supported highway siting as a way to avoid private land being condemned for siting under eminent domain, more than 82% said, “Yes.”
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NextGen Highways is a collaborative initiative promoting the use of highways and other existing rights-of-way as infrastructure corridors where electric and communications infrastructure are strategically and safely co-located. NextGen Highways is convened by the Great Plains Institute. Learn more at nextgenhighways.org.
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Posted: April 7, 2025

