The Iowa House unanimously passed a sweeping package of electrical transmission protections. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
First: Operators will have to repair damaged agricultural land—including soil, cover crops, and vital drainage tile structures—following construction (this specifically targets the upcoming wave of regional MISO grid expansions).
Next: The state's DoT must evaluate interstate highway corridors for power line easements, reducing the need to seize private farmland.
Finally: All transmission line owners (non-utility grid participants included) must submit independent emergency response plans to the Iowa Utilities Commission to ensure rapid power recovery after severe weather events.