The U.S. Department of Energy yesterday announced that it will hold four additional public meetings for the two draft National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors during the 60-day public comment period, which will close on July 6, 2007. The four additional meetings will be held in June in: Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Rochester, New York. Dates and locations will be published in the Federal Register in the coming days.

DOE previously announced it would host three public meetings at the following locations: Arlington, Virginia, on May 15, 2007; San Diego, California, on May 17, 2007; and New York, New York, on May 23, 2007.

These draft National Corridors cover geographic areas where millions of consumers are currently adversely affected by transmission capacity constraints or congestion. The draft Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor includes counties in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, all of New Jersey, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. The draft Southwest Area National Corridor includes counties in California, Arizona, and Nevada. These draft designations are being issued after months of careful study by DOE, which included close consideration of public comments on the Congestion Study, released by DOE last August. DOE recognizes the broad public interest in this process and, though not required by statute, is issuing draft designations in order to allow additional opportunities for review and comment by affected States, regional entities, and the general public.

DOE has issued the draft National Corridors because timely and effective attention to the transmission congestion problems in these areas is extremely important. DOE recognizes there are various ways in which transmission congestion may addressed, including enhanced energy efficiency, demand response, more local generation, and additional transmission capacity.