New York Regional Interconnect Inc. welcomed the announcement last month by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that proposes for designation National Interest Electrical Transmission Corridors (NIETC) in the New York area and in other areas of the country.

According to NYRI, the DOE’s proposed designations are part of a clearly emerging consensus that the reliability of America’s and New York State’s electrical power transmission infrastructure must be addressed in a timely way. Everyone agrees on the critical need. Comprehensive studies by the DOE and several states have thoroughly documented the transmission congestion problems around the country. NYRI’s studies, conducted as part of its proposal now before the NY Public Service Commission, yielded similar findings. These studies all show that areas of serious transmission congestion put many millions of people at risk for major power disruptions, and the DOE action today is a responsible step forward for ensuring a sound energy future for our country.

Increased investment in new transmission infrastructure will not only relieve serious congestion and increase reliability; it also provides important environmental benefits. New transmission infrastructure helps to decrease our national reliance on carbon-based, often-imported, sources of energy by encouraging and enabling the development of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydropower. These renewable energy sources are most often located in rural areas, and their development therefore relies on bulk transmission lines to bring the clean renewable power to urban markets with high energy demand.

NYRI understands the importance of working with and providing information to elected officials and other stakeholders, including those that have voiced opposition to the NYRI project. Its goal is to better communicate with the public about the need for new transmission lines in general and the NYRI proposed power line. At the same time, it continues to want to work with all state and federal officials and communities throughout the state to determine the most appropriate route.

NYRI is further heartened by Governor Eliot Spitzer’s recent speech, Clean Energy Strategy for New York and by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PLANYC: A Greener, Greater New York. Both speeches demonstrate the vision and resolve of New York’s leadership to address the pressing issues of reliable energy supply, environmental protection, and energy independence — all areas where new transmission infrastructure plays a crucial role.