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Published on January 24, 2025
Oklahoma Representative Proposes Amendment to Protect Property Owners from Eminent Domain by Green Energy FirmsSource: Oklahoma House of Representatives

In a move that might significantly shift the balance of power between property owners and green energy enterprises in Oklahoma, Representative Molly Jenkins, R-Coyle, is setting legislative wheels in motion with House Joint Resolution 1003. According to a report by the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Jenkins is targeting what she describes as the misuse of eminent domain by subsidized private companies, an action that could change the way these entities acquire land for green energy projects.

Rep. Jenkins has positioned the resolution as a protective shield for property owners who find themselves on the defensive against corporate pressures to forfeit their land for green energy initiatives, notably transmission lines. She aims to directly involve the voters in deciding this contentious issue, a strategy that could potentially upend current practices. "House Joint Resolution 1003 would give people the opportunity to have their voices heard and vote whether to prevent this kind of abuse," Jenkins conveyed according to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

HJR1003, if it makes it through the legislative process and receives voter approval, would amend the State Constitution to block subsidized companies from leveraging eminent domain to seize property. Notably, it would also bar wind energy companies from utilizing eminent domain to erect wind turbines. This could force companies to directly negotiate with landowners rather than rely on government-backed authority to claim land.

"I trust that my fellow Oklahomans will do the right thing and advance this important proposal swiftly," Jenkins stated on the Oklahoma House of Representatives, reflective of her urgency to see the resolution put in front of voters. She calls for immediate relief for Oklahomans reportedly under stress due to the current eminent domain threats. Landowners who feel the pervasive squeeze of eminent domain attempts to are encouraged to seek assistance from her office.

While HJR1003 is poised to be considered in the legislative session starting February 3, its journey towards becoming a constitutional amendment is at best in its infancy. Should it clear all legislative hurdles, Oklahoma voters could be the deciding force on the ballot in 2026.