FERC Chairman John Wellinghoff and Department of Energy (DoE) Senior Advisor Lauren Azarwill appear before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power to review FERC’s planning and cost allocation Order 1000 at a hearing on Oct. 13.  Many consider Order 1000 as essential in moving toward a national transmission grid.  It has been estimated that 50,000 miles of new transmission are required in the US.  Currently it takes 12 – 20 years to gain regulatory approval and build a new transmission line in the US.  The Obama administration has just announced an attempt to streamline the Federal regulatory review process.

DoE had said it intended to delegate to FERC its authority to designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.  But instead, apparently under pressure from state regulators, DOE said that it will work more closely with FERC in reviewing transmission projects.  FERC had said that if it had gotten DoE’s authorization it would focus on proposed projects that could potentially be part of the regional planning processes under Order 1000.

The issues that will be addressed at the hearing are fundamental to development of a national transmission grid in the US, driven by bringing renewable energy to major markets:

• The need for new electricity transmission infrastructure and the barriers and challenges to siting and constructing new transmission facilities.
• The statutory authority of DOE and FERC with respect to the siting, planning, and pricing of electricity transmission infrastructure.
• The roles and responsibilities of the following entities with respect to the siting, planning, and pricing of electricity transmission infrastructure: DOE, FERC, State Public Utility Commissions, Regional Transmission Organizations, and electric utilities.