Domenici Praises DOE Rollout of Draft National Corridor Designations
April 26, 2007
03:12 PM
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today praised the Department of Energy (DOE) for rolling out draft National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designations.
By making the draft designations, DOE is following a process prescribed in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The process is intended to make America’s electricity grid more secure by ensuring there is enough capacity in essential areas.
In its draft report issued today, DOE made two designations for regions identified as Critical Congestion Areas in its 2006 Congestion study. The Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor runs from Northern Virginia to New York, while the Southwest Area National Corridor includes counties in Southern California, western Arizona, and southern Nevada.
“The Energy Policy Act represented a multi-faceted approach to addressing our nation’s energy challenges. Ensuring a safe, reliable electricity grid was a major part of our efforts. Today’s rollout of draft national corridor designations is consistent with the process set forth in the energy bill. This approach allows for plenty of public comment and gives states a chance to address their electricity needs,” Domenici said.
The Energy Policy Act required DOE to issue a study of electric transmission congestion by August 2006, and every three years thereafter. After a national corridor designation is made and reviewed, states have one year to act on any proposed transmission lines, after which time the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the authority to move forward with siting power lines.
“Our economic security is dependent on the availability of electricity. The Energy Policy Act sets forward a fair process that allows for plenty of public comment, review from the affected states, and the opportunity for legal challenges. At the same time, the provisions provide a light at the end of the tunnel—literally—for parts of the country where the electricity grid is at risk due to congestion,” Domenici said.
There will now be a 60-day comment period, which will include 3 public meetings and contact with the Governors of the affected states. If the Secretary of Energy moves forward with a designation, a 30-day “re-hearing” period will occur, after which parties must immediately file legal challenges.
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