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Utility Corridors Threaten Extraordinary Public Land 3/24/08 Article:
3/19/08 Update: Senator Casey (PA) has launched a nationwide petition on his website against the Department of Energy’s implementation of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designation. NIETC designation affects all or portions of 8 states in the Mid-Atlantic and 2 in the Southwest, and is quickly becoming a national program. The petition is not specific to Pennsylvania. If you are from PA, please send Senator Casey a thank you for being a leader on this important issue. See the petition and a useful summary of the issues, maps and news articles Read about the background of this issue 2/29/08 Update: Senate Panel To Hold Oversight Hearing On Transmission Corridors 2/11/08 Update: Eleven environmental organizations sued the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in January over DOE’s designation of an eight-state area where federal eminent domain can be used to fast track new high-voltage transmission lines. Led by the National Wildlife Federation and the Piedmont Environmental Council, the groups filed suit because of DOE’s failure to study potential environmental impacts. The Alliance is assisting by hosting this conservation defense section of the website and discussion group. Also see an article from the new Exchange on tactics to fight condemnation. Recent news:
A national electric corridor "threatens over 400,000 acres of roadless forest in southern California,” according to the California Wilderness Coalition. See a map of the threatened corridor in California and Arizona (PDF, 1MB). The US Department of Energy has also designated more than 116,000 square miles in upstate New York through Ohio in another corridor. The Corridor encompasses all of Delaware and 52 counties in Pennsylvania. See a map of the threatened corridor in the Mid-Atlantic (PDF, 2MB). Using the ‘National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor’ designation allows utilities federal condemnation authority to site transmission lines, is exempt from environmental review, and preempts traditional state regulation of transmission lines and local land use laws. For more information:
Additional Resources:
posted 11/12/07
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