Department of Energy Announces Plans for Additional Comment Period

Under Section 1221(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Department of Energy must issue a report based on the Department's August 8 Congestion Study. In that report, the Secretary may designate as a "national interest electric transmission corridor" (National Corridor) any geographic area experiencing electric energy transmission capacity constraints or congestion that adversely affects consumers.

After issuing the August 8 Congestion Study, the Department invited public comment and received comments on the study from a variety of entities across the country. The Department continues to evaluate those comments, and has not yet determined whether, and if so where, it should designate any National Corridors.

Because the Department recognizes the broad public interest in this process and in the implementation of section 1221, the Department has decided that, prior to issuing a report that designates any National Corridor, the Department will first issue any designation that it is considering in draft form, so as to allow additional opportunities for review and comment by affected States, regional entities, and the general public. The Department notes that this additional comment period is not required by section 1221. DOE believes, however, that this additional opportunity for review and comment would aid both the public and the Department. The Department is announcing this process now, in advance of having preliminarily determined whether any National Corridor designations should be made, to inform the States, electric industry stakeholders, and the general public that an additional opportunity for public comment will be provided prior to DOE issuing any National Corridor designations.