An Alabama homeowner says a planned transmission line would cut through the property he intended to spend the rest of his life on and could allow outside crews to use his private driveway at any hour.
Here's what to know
According to the Trussville Tribune, Fenn Church, a Shelby County homeowner, said Alabama Power is seeking permission to build a 230-kilovolt transmission line behind his house, along with access across his roads and driveway.
Church explained to the outlet that the proposed arrangement could allow telecom, broadband, or fiber crews to use his gate "24 hours a day, seven days a week," which he called "an invasion on my Fourth Amendment right to privacy in my own home."
Church said Alabama Power filed a condemnation case against him. The dispute was reportedly heard in court on July 8, and he said the judge ruled that the company could move forward.
The fight between the utility and the homeowner has gained wider attention. John Rich, of the country music duo Big and Rich, has also become involved in the fight and serves as the White House's special envoy to U.S. landowners, according to the report.
Rich said, "We can build out our energy infrastructure and treat landowners with respect simultaneously, and that's what I intend on doing in this case."
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Rich also said a nearby alternative route could let the utility complete the project without going through Church's property, the Trussville Tribune reported.
More background
Alabama Power explained the utility project is the Autaugaville-East Pelham 230 kV Transmission Line, which has been underway since fall 2021 and spans about 74 miles as an addition to its transmission system.
The company said the line is intended to ease strain on current facilities, help move power between Montgomery and Birmingham, boost operational flexibility, and, according to the outlet, support future electrical growth.
The utility also said it is seeking easement rights rather than full ownership and compensates landowners for the interests it acquires.
According to Alabama Power, choosing a route involves factors including access, topography, current land use, line length, angle points, and environmental effects. The company also said engineers handling the routing do not receive property owners' details before a path is chosen.
What's being done?
Rich said he has tried to contact Alabama Power directly about the alternate route but, according to the Trussville Tribune, has reached only third-party lawyers.
"That is egregious behavior," he told the publication, adding that no one from company leadership had contacted him despite his role as a White House appointee.
"About 200 yards away, there's a wide open, clear-cut path that doesn't involve driving bulldozers and trucks and 18-wheelers for the rest of eternity through this man's property, right through his front driveway."
Rich also said that if direct talks are unsuccessful, he is compiling a report and could take the matter to federal officials.
Alabama Power said it remains committed to serving Alabama's increasing energy demand and treating landowners "fairly and respectfully," but it declined to discuss specifics because the matter remains in litigation.
The company also noted that landowner-suggested alternative alignments go through a formal review process under Alabama law.
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