Gov. Rendell this week asked the U.S. Department of Energy to reconsider its decision to designate a vast swath of the northeast — including 52 counties in Pennsylvania — as part of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor.

The Governor said the broad designation exceeds what lawmakers had originally intended, and the department exceeded its authority by ignoring the Federal Powers Act while failing to consider alternatives.

"This overly broad designation does a tremendous disservice to many Pennsylvania residents," said Gov. Rendell. "The federal government erred in making this designation, and we're asking that it reconsider its decision and take into full account our arguments and the public's opposition."

The application for a rehearing, which was filed by the Department of Environmental Protection at the Governor's direction, specifically asks for a rehearing of the Department of Energy's October 5 order designating the Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor.

The state cited the following reasons for its request:

· The Federal Powers Act requires that any corridor be narrowly drawn and limited only to those areas that are experiencing electric energy transmission constraints or congestion. In many parts of the 52 Pennsylvania counties affected, that is not the case.

·The Department of Energy, or DOE, failed to consider any alternatives prior to designating the corridor;

· DOE never prepared an environmental impact statement prior to making its decision as required in the National Environmental Policy Act;

· The federal government neglected to consult with the commonwealth in a timely fashion while studying transmission congestion, and failed to consider the state's comments; and

· The DOE abused its discretion in choosing to designate the corridor.

Gov. Rendell previously had filed comments in opposition to the plan on July 6. That filing granted Pennsylvania "party status" in the case, allowing today's application.

"This designation and action by the federal government is a blatant abuse of states' rights," said Gov. Rendell. "There is no evidence to suggest that Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission has ever obstructed a siting process or refused a proposed transmission project, so is unnecessary that such a large area of the state — and the citizens who live in those areas — be put in a position to accept transmission lines through their back yards.

"These transmission lines will be on our land and depreciate our property values, but they may not offer any benefit to Pennsylvania consumers," the Governor said.

"Furthermore, they will be delivering dirtier, fossil-fuel-derived power from states to the south and west of Pennsylvania at a time when we're trying to protect the environment and meet our energy needs through clean and renewable technologies. This is simply unacceptable."

To view the electric transmission corridors, visit the Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor webpage.

11/2/2007