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Energy Corridor Links

Use the links on this page to access resources related to West-wide Energy Corridors.

The websites listed below provide valuable information relating to the west-wide energy corridors. In addition, you can link directly to the lists of links provided by these sites to access additional sites with relevant information.

Energy Policy Act of 2005 Section 368(b)

Under Section 368 of the EPAct, Congress divided the United States into two groups of states: the 11 contiguous western states and the remaining states. Direction for energy transportation corridor analysis and selection in the 11 western states was addressed in Section 368(a) of EPAct, while direction for energy transportation corridor analysis and selection in all other states was addressed under Section 368(b) of EPAct. The report 'Energy Transport Corridors: The Potential Role of Federal Lands in States Identified by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 368(b)' satisfies the requirements of Section 368(b). The report: (1) presents an overview of the location, type, administration, and management of federal lands in the Section 368(b) states in order to characterize and quantify the current land uses assigned to these lands; (2) presents an inventory of existing energy infrastructure on federal lands in the Section 368(b) states; (3) summarizes current and projected energy transportation needs and issues for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission and distribution facilities in order to understand how these trends may influence a need to locate energy transportation infrastructure on federal lands in the Section 368(b) states; (4) provides an overview of regulatory issues and guidelines associated with energy transportation facilities on federal lands within the eastern states; and (5) describes and examines current energy transportation permitting considerations and inter-agency agreements that could facilitate locating energy transportation facilities on federal land in the Section 368(b) states. More information about energy corridors in Section 368(b) states can be found at https://eastcorridoreis.anl.gov/.

Agency Links

DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

The mission of the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability is to lead national efforts to modernize the electric grid; enhance security and reliability of the energy infrastructure, and facilitate recovery from disruptions to energy supply. The DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability was the lead agency for the West-wide Energy Corridor Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS).


DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA)

The Energy Information Administration (EIA), created by Congress in 1977, is a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy. EIA provides policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.


Bureau of Land Management National Energy Initiatives

The Bureau of Land Management, an agency of the Department of the Interior, manages more land - 245 million surface acres, and 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate - than any other Federal agency, most being in the Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau works closely with other federal agencies, state and tribal governments, local communities, industry and citizens of the U.S. to develop dependable, affordable and environmentally sound energy from the public lands. The BLM was a co-lead agency for the West-wide Energy Corridor PEIS.


USDA Forest Service

The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres. The Forest Service was a cooperating agency for the West-wide Energy Corridor PEIS.


Other Resources

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

FERC regulates and oversees energy industries in the economic, environmental, and safety interests of the American public. FERC is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects.


Western Governors' Association

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 18 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.


Western Interstate Energy Board

The Western Interstate Energy Board is an organization of 12 western states and three western Canadian provinces, which are associate members of the Board. The governor of each state appoints a member to the Board. The Board seeks to achieve this purpose through cooperative efforts among member states/provinces and with the federal government in the energy field. The Board serves as the energy arm of the Western Governors' Association.


Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)

WECC is responsible for coordinating and promoting electric system reliability among the participating electric power systems engaged in bulk power generation and/or transmission serving all or part of the 14 Western States and British Columbia, Canada. WECC's homepage contains links to a variety of energy-related sites.


North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

NERC's mission is to ensure that the bulk electric system in North America is reliable, adequate and secure. Since its formation in 1968, NERC has operated successfully as a self-regulatory organization, relying on reciprocity, peer pressure and the mutual self-interest of all those involved.


Southwest Area Transmission (SWAT)

SWAT is comprised of transmission regulators/governmental entities, transmission users, transmission owners, transmission operators and environmental entities. The goal of SWAT is to promote regional planning in the Desert Southwest. The site features links to several other energy resources.


Southwest Transmission Expansion Plan (STEP)

STEP's primary mission is to coordinate transmission expansion plans in the STEP area.


Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study

The goal of the Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study is to identify in an open and public process, the most critical electric transmission and generation project needs in the Rocky Mountain sub region, and with broad stakeholder involvement provide a framework for regional collaboration to improve the Western interconnection with technical, financial and environmentally viable projects identified for developmental consideration.


Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG)

CCPG is a joint, high voltage transmission system planning forum for the purpose of assuring a high degree of reliability in the planning, development, and operation of the high voltage transmission system in the Rocky Mountain Region.


Wyoming Energy Authority

The Wyoming Energy Authority is tasked with diversifying and growing the state's economy through the development of Wyoming's electric transmission infrastructure. The Authority is also responsible for planning, financing, building, maintaining, and operating electric transmission and related facilities.