LG&E launches illegal land grab in Bullitt County

Get off our land, LG&E!

Only in a corporatist police state can a big corporation seize private individuals' land to be used for their own projects. Sadly, these days, that's become the norm. Louisville Gas & Electric - which has a monopoly on electric and gas service in the Louisville area - is suing folks in Bullitt County, Kentucky, to take their land to build a natural gas pipeline.

It's not only individuals who are being targeted. Bernheim Forest is being sued too, threatening a conservation project there. The utility recently filed at least 9 condemnation suits in Bullitt County. LG&E is going ahead with the project even though it hasn't even secured an important permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Meanwhile, a natural gas pipeline owned by energy giant Enbridge in Lincoln County has exploded - killing one person and seriously injuring at least 5 others. Flames shot 300 feet into the sky and could be seen all over the county and even showed up on weather radar.

There is no legal basis to allow utilities or any other private corporation to condemn land. People across the political spectrum should be able to agree that this is one of the most basic facts of a free society. The Constitution requires just compensation if public entities take land. Where does it permit private companies to take land at all?

(Source: https://www.wdrb.com/in-depth/lg-e-sues-to-condemn-bernheim-other-bullitt-county-land)