An Iowa House panel advanced legislation this week that would require land restoration efforts following the initial construction of electric transmission lines in Iowa.
Under House Study Bill 526, transmission line owners would be responsible for repairing tile drainage, tilling impacted soil and reseeding cover crops or other ground cover in the easement area following construction.
Kevin Kuhle, speaking on behalf of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, said land restoration following electric transmission projects is a “really important issue” for Iowa farmers.
The bill language states that electric transmission owners must “restore the land to its original condition to the extent practicable.”
The Iowa Utilities Commission would implement the rules and impose civil penalties if electric transmission owners do not comply with the restoration requirements.
Similar language was included in Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposed energy bill from 2025, which did not make it to the floor for debate.
Several other farm groups, and environmental groups registered in favor of the bill, while utility companies remained undecided on the bill.
Onnalee Gettler, a lobbyist on behalf of MidAmerican Energy, suggested an amendment to the bill so that it only applied to projects from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, or MISO, long-range transmission plan, “Tranche 2.1” and beyond. Gettler said these are transmission projects that were approved in July 2024, but have not yet been built.
While HSB 526 applies only to electric transmission lines, Kuhle with Iowa Farm Bureau Federation said “it’d be great” if lawmakers extended the restoration requirements to other projects, including natural gas and liquid hazardous pipelines.
“All of these energy projects are going to be built out, and we want to make sure landowners are respected in the process,” Kuhle said.
The bill passed unanimously from the subcommittee, led by Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield.
This story was originally published by the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Republished with permission.
