A three-mile stretch of 105-foot-tall utility poles in Wichita has galvanized residents and lawmakers to make a renewed push for increased regulatory oversight of transmission line decisions in urban areas. A 2018 project by Westar Energy, now Evergy, installed dozens of massive metal transmission line poles in a low-income neighborhood of northeast Wichita. Some of the poles were placed directly in people’s yards. Residents criticized the installation for damaging property value and said such action would not have been taken in wealthier areas. Evergy has since apologized and made a $1.2 million donation to a community fund.
Source: Kansas Reflector
