Transforming Our Nation's Electric Grid Through Improved Siting, Permitting, and Review

Impact dates

1. Date TBD

   First regional corridor assessment due to Steering Committee (within 12 months of plan completion)

2. Date TBD

   Western corridor study due to Steering Committee (within 12 months of plan completion)

3. Nov 12, 2014

   Secretaries provide implementation plan to Steering Committee and OMB

4. Sep 1, 2014

   Secretaries provide updated recommendations for designating energy corridors in non-Western States to Steering Committee

5. Apr 1, 2014

   Part 2 of Transmission Corridor Assessment Report (non-Western States recommendations) due from Secretary of Energy

6. Sep 30, 2013

   Member Agencies provide plan for integrated pre-application process to CPO and CEQ Chair

7. Jul 12, 2013

   Secretaries provide plan for producing Western corridor study and regional corridor assessments to Steering Committee

Key directives

• Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, and Interior to designate and revise energy corridors on federal lands per Energy Policy Act of 2005 Section 368
• Secretary of Energy to produce two-part Transmission Corridor Assessment Report with recommendations
• Secretaries to provide plan for Western corridor study by July 12, 2013
• Secretaries to complete Western corridor study within 12 months of plan
• Secretaries to complete regional corridor assessments with first within 12 months of plan
• Secretaries to provide implementation plan by November 12, 2014
• Secretaries to provide updated recommendations for non-Western State corridors by September 1, 2014
• Member Agencies to develop integrated pre-application process for transmission projects
• Member Agencies to provide pre-application process plan by September 30, 2013
• Member Agencies to improve siting/permitting/review for all transmission projects per EO 13604

Who is ordered

• Secretary of Agriculture · Department of Agriculture
• Secretary of Commerce · Commerce
• Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense
• Secretary of Energy · Department of Energy
• Secretary of the Interior · Department of the Interior
• Director of OMB · Office of Management and Budget
• Chief Performance Officer · Office of Management and Budget
• Chair of Council on Environmental Quality · CEQ
• Member Agencies of Steering Committee on Federal Infrastructure Permitting and Review Process Improvement · Multiple

Timeline

Risks & tensions

• Many deadlines are contingent on 'resource availability' and 'subject to the availability of appropriations', creating execution risk
• Complex multi-agency coordination (9 agencies) may slow implementation
• Balancing renewable energy expansion with environmental/cultural resource protection creates inherent tension
• Non-Western States lack any designated corridors, creating longer timeline for national grid modernization
• Mitigation plans required at 'landscape or watershed scale' are ambitious and may face technical and jurisdictional challenges