National Electric Transmission Congestion Study (2009)

In the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), Congress directed the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a study every three years on electric transmission congestion and constraints within the Eastern and Western Interconnections. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) further directed the Secretary to include in the 2009 Congestion Study an analysis of significant potential sources of renewable energy that are constrained by lack of adequate transmission capacity. Based on this study, and comments concerning it from states and other stakeholders, the Secretary of Energy may designate any geographic area experiencing electric transmission capacity constraints or congestion as a national interest electric transmission corridor (National Corridor). In August 2006, the Department published its first National Electric Transmission Congestion Study. In 2007, based on the findings of that study and after considering the comments of stakeholders, the Secretary designated two National Corridors, one in the Mid-Atlantic area and one covering Southern California and part of western Arizona. This document identifies areas that are transmission- constrained, but as in 2006, this study does not make recommendations concerning existing or new National Corridor designations. The Department may or maynot take additional steps concerning National Corridors at some future time.