One of the more lively parts of Saturday night's Republican debate were the interactions between candidates Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, and the audience who booed Trump. But it hid a more serious matter—the use of eminent domain for the Northern Pass.
According to the project overview, "Northern Pass is a 192-mile transmission line project that will bring 1,090 megawatts (MW) of clean, affordable energy from Hydro-Québec’s world-class hydroelectric plants in Canada to New Hampshire and to the rest of New England." StateImpact calls it "a highly controversial proposal." Opponents have unwisely been labeled "NIMBYs", according to a 2014 Planetizen post.
Trump was asked by WMUR-TV anchor Josh McElveen, one of ABC's moderators during the debate, "Do you see eminent domain as an appropriate tool to get that done?"
However, while the future of the project is unsettled, the use of eminent domain was taken off the table by the legislature. "In 2012, former governor John Lynch (D) signed a law blocking utility companies from using eminent domain for certain projects, a law aimed at the contentious Northern Pass project, which seeks to string power lines from Quebec through New Hampshire, connecting a Canadian hydroelectric plant to New England’s power grid," reported the Washington Post on Jan. 26.
Bush and Trump also debated the use of eminent domain in the Keystone XL pipeline.
TRUMP to Bush: Eminent domain, the Keystone pipeline — do you consider that a private job?
BUSH: I consider it a public use.
The two go back and forth on that. Actually, it's a private job for what can be viewed as a public use, i.e., they were both right.
Notwithstanding the serious nature of eminent domain, the Northern Pass, and Keystone XL, the exchange was rather comical, with Trump telling Bush to be "quiet" numerous times, that he was trying to be a "tough guy," with Bush responding, "How tough it is to take away property from an elderly woman?" referring to Trump's use of eminent domain in his role as a developer in Atlantic City, N.J. in the 1990s (posted here).
And when the audience booed Trump for being a bully, he pounced on them, accusing them of being "all of (Bush's) donors and special interests out there."
FULL STORY: NH #GOPdebate audience boos Donald Trump after he orders Jeb Bush to be quiet

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie