Bill banning energy companies from using eminent domain moves through OK Senate
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Senate lawmakers voted to move forward with a bill that would ban certain green energy companies from using eminent domain on private property.
Senate Bill 352 states that eminent domain can not be used by 'wind energy facilities, solar energy facilities, battery storage facilities, or hydrogen gas facilities on private property.'
'Private property owners must have protections,' said Sen. Todd Gollihare (R-Kellyville).
Gollihare authored the legislation. He was asked how he identified these businesses as ones to restrict.
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'These green energy facilities and all the conflict that's going on in rural Oklahoma with wind turbines as well as solar projects,' said Gollihare.
He cited recent projects in northern Oklahoma, where companies used eminent domain to move forward. He said his bill adds safeguards for landowners.'These landowners want to have a say in who's taking their property and who's using their land for what. That's how we identified that,' said Gollihare.
The legislation would also require electric companies to get approval from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission on high-voltage line projects.
Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman) said she started looking into the state's eminent domain laws after having to deal with the possibility it would be enforced for a turnpike in her district.'I learned that Oklahoma has some of the worst eminent domain laws in the nation as far as private property owners,' said Boren.
Gollihare said the legislation would strengthen those statutes while protecting private property owners.'Since 1915 no significant changes have been made to the eminent domain statute. Other than prohibiting its use for wind turbine in 2011,' said Gollihare. 'Senate Bill 352 is the first step in updating this statute to protect private property rights in the modern era.'
The measure passed the full Senate and will now make its way to the House.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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