Southern Illinois News

Blaine Wilhour, State Representative of Illinois, said that the cancellation of federal support for the Grain Belt Express is a victory for landowners opposing eminent domain. The statement was made on X.

"Big win for private property rights," said Blaine Jacob Wilhour, Illinois State Representative for 110th District. "This was legislative theft. Donald Trump just torched that garbage. Big loss for Pritzker and the Green Scam."

According to Capitol News Illinois, the Grain Belt Express is an 800-mile transmission project aiming to deliver wind power from Kansas through Missouri and Illinois to Indiana, supplying up to 5,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy. While developers promote the project as a tool for lowering energy costs and improving grid reliability, landowners in Illinois have strongly opposed it, citing eminent domain concerns. In 2024, an Illinois appellate court rejected the state’s approval of the route, arguing it granted sweeping authority to a private developer not classified as a public utility.

Flatland KC reports that the Grain Belt Express requires land access across over 1,700 parcels in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, with hundreds of easements still pending in Illinois as of 2024. The developer, Invenergy, offers payments above market value and compensation for crop loss; however, opposition remains high. Illinois landowners continue to resist, raising concerns over involuntary takings and long-term land use impacts.

StopPATH WV notes that Illinois has rarely used eminent domain for private energy projects over the past decade, favoring negotiated easements. However, the Grain Belt Express was granted this authority under state law—a controversial move that diverges from standard public utility procedures. Legal filings argue this use of eminent domain may violate state constitutional protections for landowners.

Ballotpedia provides background on Blaine Wilhour as a Republican state representative for Illinois’ 110th District since 2019. A former Fayette County Board member and National Guard veteran, he is also a farmer and contractor. Wilhour has focused on rural infrastructure, property rights, and energy issues while frequently voicing concern over eminent domain abuse and excessive state regulation.