Thursday, April 25 (Washington, DC) — Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced a final rule on the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits (CITAP) Program to accelerate federal environmental review and permitting processes for electric transmission facilities. The final rule will expedite transmission development by establishing DOE as the lead agency to coordinate among federal and state entities, set a deadline of two years to federally permit a project, require transmission developers to prepare a community engagement plan, and establish a developer-driven pre-application process.
DOE also announced a new Transmission Facilitation Program (TFP) awardee. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, TFP provides federal support for projects that develop nationally significant transmission lines and increase resilience by connecting regions of the country. Today’s DOE award worth $331 million went to the Southwest Intertie Project-North (SWIP-N), which connects Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. The agency also announced contract finalization for the Southline and Cross-Tie Transmission Line Projects, which both were awarded grants in October 2023.
Executive Director Christina Hayes issued the following statement:
“ACEG applauds DOE’s announcement of a final rule on the CITAP Program, which will have major benefits for expediting and improving the transmission development process. Not only will the increased efficiency from this program for developing new transmission lines increase grid resiliency and reliability, but it will help lower the cost of electricity for homes and businesses and spur economic growth across the country. As the agency’s National Transmission Needs Study emphasized last year, nearly all U.S. regions would see benefits for customers from additional transmission capacity.
“Today’s selection of the SWIP-N project for a TFP grant, as well as the finalization of contracts with the Southline and Cross-Tie projects, are valuable steps towards building the expanded and modernized transmission system America needs. These projects are important for securing resource adequacy in the West, and represent innovative public-private efforts to build a stronger, more reliable grid.”
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About Americans for a Clean Energy Grid:
Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG) is a non-profit, broad-based public interest advocacy coalition focused on the need to expand, integrate, and modernize the North American high-capacity grid. ACEG brings together a diverse coalition — including business, labor, consumer, environmental groups, and other transmission supporters — to advocate for policies that recognize the benefits of a robust transmission grid.
Media Contact:
Chloe Slayter, Communications Manager
chloe.slayter@cleanenergygrid.org | 805-556-5344