( KMZA )--A standing room only crowd was on hand Monday evening in Seneca for the first of four public hearings held by the Kansas Corporation Commission to gather input on a high voltage electric transmission line that would cross through the local area.

The majority of those in attendance voiced opposition to the Grain Belt Express Clean Line that would transmit 35-hundred megawatts of wind power from southwestern Kansas to eastern states.

Concerns were voiced about the impact the transmission lines would have on property values and the local agriculture economy .

Another person asked if the utility could give a guarantee that the transmission lines would not cause any health problems.  

State Representative Randy Garber, who represents Brown and Nemaha Counties,  voiced his opposition to the project.  Garber said he doesn’t support wind energy because its heavily subsidized.  He added that if property owners don’t want to sell their land, they shouldn’t be forced to and doesn’t support eminent domain.

Blue Rapids resident Phil Osborne urged the KCC to approve the proposed transmission line route, saying he believes wind power is the best option for reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Clean Line Energy officials say property owners will receive fair compensation for allowing the network to traverse their land.  They say the project will make possible about $7 billion in new clean energy projects that will create thousands of jobs, increase state and local tax revenues, and deliver enough low-cost clean energy to power up to $1.4 million homes.

The KCC will accept written and oral comments from the public through August 28th, and make a decision by November 17th.