Amicus Brief Filed In Jeffery Solar Civil Suit

 

Amicus Brief Filed In Jackson County Solar Cases

 
SOLAR LAWSUIT IN JACKSON COUNTY FINDS DAY IN COURT
 
Resolve could be just around the corner for Jackson County residents who are plaintiffs in the case of a Industrial Jeffery Solar Project owned by Nextera Energy that would stretch across 5,000 Acres of Jackson County on prime farm ground. Thomas Hoffman, Joseph Strong, Vincent Shibler and David Shibler filed CIVIL-ACTION-NO-525-cv-4003 asking for an injunction will be heard June 18 at 9 am at the Robert J. Dole Federal Courthouse in Kansas City Judge Holly Teeter presiding over the injunction hearing. Plaintiffs are asking for an injunction to prevent the solar farm project from moving forward until an environmental study is performed.  It is an open Courtroom proceeding, so public can:
 
9 AM JUNE 18, 2025  Robert J. Dole United States Courthouse Courtroom 463  500 State Avenue  Kansas City, KS  66101
 

DEFENDENTS NAMED IN THE CIVIL LAWSUIT 

            • The United States Department of Treasury.
            • Janet Yellen, in her official capacity as U.S. secretary of Treasury.
            • Aditi Hardikar, in her official capacity as acting assistant secretary of the Treasury for Management.
            • Laurel Blatchford, in her official capacity as the chief implementation officer for the Inflation Reduction Act.
            • Aviva Aron-Dine, in her official capacity as assistant secretary for tax policy at the treasury.
            • Daniel Werfel, in his official capacity as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.
            • The Council on Environmental Quality.
            • Brenda Mallory, in her official capacity as chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.
            • Keith Kelly, Mark Pruett and Linda Gerhardt in their official capacity as the chair and members of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
The lawsuits contend the Department of Treasury for failing to apply NEPA to renewable projects in Kansas and other states that received massive federal subsidies through the IRA. Absent NEPA review, Federal Defendants’ final agency actions approving IRA tax subsidies for renewal projects are unlawful. READ HERE
 
 
 

Stand 4 The Land Kansas Members File Amicus Brief


 
 
MOTION OF STAND 4 THE LAND KANSAS FOR LEAVE TO FILE 
AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF
 
In support of the Civil Action, Stand 4 The Land Kansas has asked the Court to grant permission to become a participant as an amicus to brief and argue as a friend of the court to evaluating the broader context and implications of the issues presented in this case. Read AMICUS BRIEF
 

 

“Build Kansas” The Legislatures Best Kept Secret

“Build Kansas” The Legislatures Best Kept Secret

If “Build Kansas” sounds unfamiliar to legislators, that could explain why  the $50 Million Dollar  Special Revenue Fund has been out of sight of the public eye.  Created by a Senate Bill 25 in 2023, “Build Kansas” is Funded by State General Funds (Taxpayer Dollars) at $50 Million a year till 2027 with a $5 Million administrative fee included.   To add to the non-transparency of this Special Revenue Fund, the State Account that disperses the funds is located at the State of Kansas Treasures Office under the same Fund that previous State Treasures toured the state returning small sums of money back to Kansans.  Check out the unclaimed property link below: kansascash.ks.gov/build_kansas

Same Agencies Are Encouraging Eminent Domain

Examples of Jobs given in the Presentation of August 30, 2023 Presentation were Carbon Capture, Charging Stations, Water, Energy, Cyber Security.  All selected by Agencies Listed (Full Explanation in Video))

The August 30th, 2023 Presentation outlined that the Legislators sitting on the Advisory Committee were Advisory Only and not in a capacity to rejected any Project and that the Agencies were in charge of the Driving.

” If a Project were deemed attractive and the Price Tag was Higher than $50 Million, the Advisory Committee could ask the State Finance Council to authorize monies  like an Advance against  future monies going to Build Kansas.”  according to Calvin Reed, Secretary of Transportation & Coordinator of the HUB Sub Cabinet

Uniquely, the State is divided into Regions by the Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Project Managers and works closely with the Associations of Counties, County Economic Developers, County Managers, as a Steering Committee, identifying projects needed by the community.   Elected Legislators on the Advisory Council are:

  • Senator Ty Masterson, Vice Chair, Senate President Appointee
  • Senator JR Claeys, Senate President Appointee
  • Senator Usha Reddi, Senate Minority Leader Appointee
  • Senator Tim Shallenburger, Senate President Appointee
  • Representative Shannon Francis, Speaker of the House Appointee
  • Representative Henry Helgerson, House Minority Leader Appointee
  • Representative Kyle Hoffman, Speaker of the House Appointee
  • Representative Lindsay Vaughn, Governor Appointee

The irony of a using Taxpayers money from the State General Fund is for over two years Kansas Property Owners have battled the expansion of  Industrial Solar, Wind, Battery, and Transmission on the Local County Front, in Capital hearing Rooms, and County Commission Meetings, pushing back against the aggressive Energy Companies that have the ability to use eminent domain.  Taxpayers will likely balk at the idea that tax money collected from the ever increasing property taxes would be considered as Economic Development.  Flooding local economies with projects poised to enhance “Land Grabbing” by Government will be met with resistance.

Transparency of Federal Funds coming through a Back Door and no Accountability in sight, the last question the Advisory Council should ask should be why the use of the states professional staff who write Legislation and Revise Statutes. Is it by design or is that needed to skirt the hurdles that need cleared?

Click Here to view organizations like MARC, Projects funding Private Rail, and the recent interest in State Water Discussions:

Staff receives $5 Million in Funding to Administer:

  • Nancy Fontaine, Committee Assistant
  • Chardae Caine, Legislative Research
  • Dylan Dear, Legislative Research
  • Chris Waggoner, Office of Revisor of Statutes
  • Jill Wolters, Office of Revisor of Statutes

 

Virginia Macha – Resident of Allen County, KS

 

 

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