lowa's right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) legislation supports energy growth and innovation that protects and provides opportunities to all lowans. lowa's utility companies understand the nuances of our state and our energy infrastructure needs. ROFR legislation ensures that future electric energy projects are led by lowa-based utilities, who have the best interest of ratepayers and our communities.
Here’s how:
Landowners’ Rights are Protected by ROFR
Under ROFR, Iowans decide who builds future regional projects, not an out-of-state committee that doesn’t consider environmental impacts, landowner rights, or reliability.
Iowa Utilities are Committing to Operating a Reliable Electrical Grid
When storms like the 2020 derecho hit, Iowa’s transmission utilities have crews, materials, supplies and equipment ready to restore power and our leaders are herein the state, ready to work with emergency management and the Governor to get the power flowing immediately.
The ROFR Legislation Would Ensure a Cost-Effective Approach for New Projects
ROFRs are cost competitive. Iowa’s local utilities already use competitive bidding to select contractors and suppliers for electrical transmission projects.
Dear <lawmaker>,
I’m writing to ask you to please vote to support Iowa’s right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) legislation.
A vote for Iowa’s ROFR legislation means we’ll invest in cost-effective electricity projects, ensuring hard-working families’ energy rates remain affordable.
Your vote to support ROFR means that our electrical grid will be more reliable as Iowa’s hometown energy providers will be responsible for maintaining our critical infrastructure, not some out-of-state corporation.
Importantly, ROFR also protects landowner rights by ensuring Iowans decide who builds future energy projects. We don’t need out-of-state committees or board rooms deciding what’s best for us, our land, or our infrastructure.
Please support Iowa’s energy future with a vote for ROFR!
A weather-resilient grid and immediate response following storm-related outages
Reinvestments in Iowa workers, vendors and suppliers, helping our communities and supporting economic growth
Codifies standards for land restoration after completion of regional electric transmission projects and supports voluntary grants of easement rights to build transmission lines
Ensures local Iowa utilities can construct regional transmission projects while competitively bidding construction of these projects to manage total costs
More complexity to restoring the grid after major weather events because out-of-state developer slack resources needed for an immediate response
Funds out-of-state private investment firms and stifles local jobs and economic opportunities
Private equity firms and other non-local developers will gain access to eminent domain rights to increase their profitability and decide what’s ‘good enough’ when restoring farmland post-construction
Promotes cheaper initial estimates that become inflated and extended as project requirements evolve, resulting in higher costs for customers in the long run
A weather-resilient grid and immediate response following storm-related outages
More complexity to restoring the grid after major weather events because out-of-state developers lack resources needed for an immediate response
Reinvestments in Iowa workers, vendors and suppliers, helping our communities and supporting economic growth
Funds out-of-state private investment firms and stifles local jobs and economic opportunities
Codifies standards for land restoration after completion of regional electric transmission projects and supports voluntary grants of easement rights to build transmission lines
Private equity firms and other non-local developers will gain access to eminent domain rights to increase their profitability and decide what’s ‘good enough’ when restoring farmland post-construction
Ensures local Iowa utilities can construct regional transmission projects while competitively bidding construction of these projects to manage total costs
Promotes cheaper initial estimates that become inflated and extended as project requirements evolve, resulting in higher costs for customers in the long run
