DOE Working Toward a More Efficient Permitting Review Process for Transmission Projects

It's a no-brainer that we need to modernize the grid to tap the potential of renewable energy and the electrification transition as well as maintain reliability and resilience in the face of extreme weather conditions. Major upgrades to our electric grids are needed to facilitate this transition and adapt to changing conditions.

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to streamline federal permitting for electric transmission lines and dramatically reduce the time for building electric transmission projects. The proposed rule would establish the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits (CITAP) Program to accelerate review and approvals, with the goal of completing reviews within two years.

The new CITAP program would help coordinate and ideally expedite federal permitting reviews for electrical transmission line projects. Developers would be expected to participate in the Integrated Interagency Preapplication (IIP) process, intended to facilitate early engagement, communication, and coordination among the various local, state and federal stakeholders.

The NOPR is set to be published in the Federal Register and followed by a 45-day public comment period.

We are tracking the rulemaking and will provide more in depth analysis in future posts.