CREEK COUNTY, Okla. — Dozens of people attended a meeting at the Creek County Fairgrounds Thursday night to share their concerns about the federal government creating a massive transmission line that would run across the State of Oklahoma.

At the start of the meeting, attendees learned the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) was called off.

While this is news people in Creek County wanted to hear, they said they will continue to stay informed about their community.

“I have good news to share. This afternoon, I received a call from the United States Department of Energy...to say there will be a public announcement on Monday from the Department of Energy, but he gave me permission to share it tonight. The Delta Plain Corridor will not be a possible national corridor as of Monday,” said Oklahoma House Speaker-elect Kyle Hilbert.

Mandie McCord is one of the Creek County residents who started the movement of informing people about the project and keeping landowners in the know.

“Even though we got good news, we have to be vigilant. Always be vigilant. We’ll be following this,” said McCord.

People showed up to the meeting to voice their concerns about the potential power lines affecting their land, their livestock, and their health.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to hear that the Department of Energy is going to give up on its plans of these ridiculous corridors,” said another concerned resident. “However, like everyone up here has been saying we have to remain vigilant to what is also in the works.”

Now that the 645-mile electric transmission corridor has been canceled, Speaker-elect Hilbert said it does not mean similar projects couldn’t happen in the future.

“This means the NIETC designation is not there. It takes away the right from the federal eminent domain,” said Hilbert. “Now obviously, those transmission line companies should be able to get landowners to consent by their own willingness, they can pursue that. Just something to be aware of...the individual with the Department of Energy shared with me that the public feedback helped make this decision and change their mind.”

While the project has been canceled, community members are still planning to meet at the state capitol on January 7 at 9:30 a.m. to express their opinions on issues like this and eminent domain.