We believe an interstate EHV transmission grid is essential, and we’re committed to doing all we can to facilitate its development. A national EHV backbone would:

• Enhance the reliability and security of the grid;
• Enable efficient and more affordable access to renewable energy such as wind and solar; and
• Lower regional energy costs by reducing congestion charges and making more energy available when and where it’s needed.

The siting process and arguments about cost allocation are impeding a much-needed national interstate transmission system. We respect the legitimate interests of states and local communities and will look for opportunities to use existing rights-of-way where possible, but we support a larger role for the FERC. We believe transmission is interstate commerce and should be regulated as such — at the federal level. We are advocating for a revision of the Federal Power Act so that EHV transmission lines will be federally regulated, just like natural gas pipelines.

We support two multi-regional planning authorities, one for the Eastern Interconnection and one for the Western Interconnection. We also support cost allocation for EHV backbone projects (those that overlay the existing grid) across the same wide areas. The benefits of such projects extend to broad geographic areas, and so should the costs. Allocating costs across a larger pool of consumers will, of course, reduce the impact of those costs on all individuals.

We also support the plan promoted by oil and gas industry veteran T. Boone Pickens to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil because it would develop both transmission and renewable energy. We have asked our employees to support the Pickens Plan, and we expect to support it before Congress.