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Adding new transmission infrastructure more quickly also will, officials say, speed up renewables and EV integration, help avoid blackouts, enable faster power restoration after outages and shrink the need for new power plants.
The transmission line permitting process, as it is now, is a tedious, complicated, time-consuming and expensive procedure – and has been a well-publicized obstacle for new lines. Not hard to believe when nine federal agencies are involved, including DOE, FERC, Interior, Defense, Agriculture, the Council on Environmental Quality, EPA and others in addition to state, local and tribal stakeholders.
The administration's new pilots will focus on seven proposed transmission lines affecting 12 states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Wisconsin.
"Transmission is a vital component of our nation's energy portfolio, and these seven lines, when completed, will serve as important links across our country to increase our power grid's capacity and reliability," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. "This the kind of critical infrastructure we should be working together to advance in order to create jobs and move our nation toward energy independence."
Specifically, the accelerated process will be accomplished by coordinating statutory permitting, review and consultation schedules and processes among the federal and state agencies; applying a consistent approach to consultations with tribal governments, and quickly resolving interagency conflicts and ensuring that all participants are fully involved and meeting schedules.
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