Rendell pans power line corridor

PITTSBURGH n If the U.S. Department of Energy is allowed to designate a large area of Pennsylvania and the Northeast United States for transmission lines, a Rendell administration official said today such a move would possibly supplant states’ rights and could lead to the construction of unnecessary power lines. Daniel Griffiths, director of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Energy Innovations and Technology Deployment, testified on June 15 before the Department of Energy about its proposed Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor. “The Department of Energy’s broad designation of the Mid-Atlantic Corridor, which includes much of Pennsylvania, combined with the siting process recently adopted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may lead to projects in Pennsylvania that ignore the nation’s best interests and the critical concerns of states,” said Griffiths, who spoke on behalf of Governor Edward G. Rendell. “Governor Rendell fears the breadth of this corridor— as outlined by the federal government — may lead to projects that harm Pennsylvania without any balance of benefits. “We urge the Department of Energy to withdraw its designation and postpone any decision until it is clear that states are unable to site necessary transmission facilities or identify reasonable alternatives,” Griffiths said. Griffith’s testimony follows a June 8 letter by Governor Rendell to Energy Department Secretary Samuel W. Bodman, which stated similar concerns. To view a map of the proposed Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor, visit nietc.anl.gov.