Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has called on the U.S. Department of Energy to rescind a $4.9 billion federal loan guarantee approved for the Grain Belt Express (GBE), a high-voltage transmission line project aimed at transporting renewable energy across multiple states.
In a letter hand-delivered to the Department of Energy, Bailey argued the project, backed by foreign investors, poses a threat to Missouri landowners and was approved without sufficient consideration of state laws or private property rights. He criticized the Biden Administration for fast-tracking what he described as a “green energy boondoggle.”
“The Biden Administration fast-tracked a multi-billion-dollar subsidy to line the pockets of foreign investors under the guise of green energy, all while trampling on the rights of Missouri farmers,” said Bailey.
Bailey’s letter follows a Civil Investigative Demand issued by his office to GBE, citing allegedly misleading claims about job creation, economic impact, and the project’s use of eminent domain. According to the Attorney General’s Office, GBE has already initiated nearly 50 lawsuits to forcibly acquire land from Missouri residents.
In a parallel move, Bailey also requested the Missouri Public Service Commission reexamine GBE’s application, alleging it was based on speculative assumptions, including reliance on a non-existent carbon tax.
This latest action underscores Bailey’s continued opposition to the Grain Belt Express and his broader efforts to protect property rights and challenge what he views as federal overreach.
