Energy Corridor Basics

Basic information on energy corridors.

What Is an Energy Corridor?

In the context of the west-wide energy corridors, an energy corridor is defined as a parcel of land (often linear in character) that has been identified through the land use planning process as being a preferred location for existing and future utility rights-of-way, and that is suitable to accommodate one or more rights-of-way which are similar, identical or compatible. Also see FLPMA, Section 503.

What Are the Components of an Energy Corridor?

Energy corridors may accommodate multiple pipelines (such as for oil, gas, or hydrogen), electricity transmission lines, and related infrastructure, such as access and maintenance roads, compressors, pumping stations, and other structures. Photographs of equipment and facilities found in energy corridors, and associated construction activities are available on the Photos page.

More detailed information on energy corridor components is also available in the following technical reports:

	The Design, Construction, and Operation of Long-Distance High-Voltage Electricity Transmission Technologies Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Technical Memorandum ANL/EVS/TM/08-4 (1.4 MB)
	Overview of the Design, Construction, and Operation of Interstate Liquid Petroleum Pipelines Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Technical Memorandum ANL/EVS/TM/08-1 (2.34 MB)
	Natural Gas Pipeline Technology Overview Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Technical Memorandum ANL/EVS/TM/08-5 (2.67 MB)
	Overview of Interstate Hydrogen Pipeline Systems Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Technical Memorandum ANL/EVS/TM/08-2 (1.42 MB)

What Anticipated Benefits Will Energy Corridor Designation Bring?

Expected benefits of Section 368 energy corridor designation under the West-wide Energy Corridor Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) include the following:

Streamlining and expediting the processing of energy-related permits and projects;
Providing applicants for individual rights-of-way within designated corridors with a clear set of actions required by each of the Agencies to implement projects in designated corridors;
Reducing duplicative assessment of generic environmental impacts by focusing further impact assessment on site-specific (on-the-ground) environmental studies to determine route suitability and appropriate mitigation;
Ensuring needed inter-agency coordination as part of the application process; and
Encouraging new and innovative technologies to increase corridor capacity.

For More Information

Much additional information on energy corridors and development issues is available through the Web. Visit the Energy Corridor Links page to access sites with more information.