WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the dates and locations for an additional four public meetings on the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (National Corridors).  They will be held in Rochester, New York, on June 12, 2007; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 13; Las Vegas on June 20; and Phoenix, Arizona on June 21, 2007. 

Meetings will take place from 1PM to 7PM and the address for each public meeting is posted at http://nietc.anl.gov/.  Registration will begin at 12:00PM and DOE will give an overview presentation from 1:00PM-1:30PM.  DOE has previously hosted three public meetings at the following locations: Arlington, Virginia; San Diego, California; and New York, New York.

The 60-day public comment period on the National Corridors will close on July 6, 2007.  Comments may also be submitted through the NIETC website at http://nietc.anl.gov/involve/index.cfm or mailed to: The Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585. 

These draft National Corridors cover geographic areas where millions of consumers are currently adversely affected by transmission capacity constraints or congestion.  The draft Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor includes counties in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, all of New Jersey, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.  The draft Southwest Area National Corridor includes counties in California, Arizona, and Nevada.  These draft designations are being issued after months of careful study by DOE, which included close consideration of public comments on the Congestion Study, released by DOE last August.  DOE recognizes the broad public interest in this process and, though not required by statute, is issuing draft designations in order to allow additional opportunities for review and comment by affected States, regional entities, and the general public.

DOE has issued the draft National Corridors because timely and effective attention to the transmission congestion problems in these areas is extremely important.  DOE recognizes there are various ways in which transmission congestion may be addressed, including enhanced energy efficiency, demand response, more local generation, and additional transmission capacity.

Media contact(s):
Megan Barnett, (202) 586-4940