As President Obama announced in his speech yesterday, the agreement “will help break down the bureaucratic barriers that currently make it slow and costly to build new transmission lines on federal lands.”
The MOU has been signed by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
"The process of siting and permitting new transmission lines on federal lands has posed a barrier to efficient grid enhancements,î said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. ìUnder President Obama’s leadership, we want to expand and modernize our nation’s transmission grid so we can access renewable energy sources, improve reliability, and reduce grid congestion. This is part of a comprehensive effort to create a clean energy future that also promotes energy efficiency and conservation."
"To build America's clean energy economy we must update our transmission grid for the 21st century, so that we can efficiently move power from the new energy frontier to the places it is consumed," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "This MOU also recognizes DOI's key role in ensuring that transmission siting is done in a way that protects America's natural and cultural heritage, and in consultation with tribal nations."
"... it is imperative for work to begin today to rebuild and modernize our electric transmission grid, not only to get renewable and alternative energy to market, but to ensure the reliability of America’s energy grid,î said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. ìFor rural America, it means increased opportunity for income from power – solar, wind and biofuels – generated in rural areas. And that means jobs and economic development for rural America. USDA is proud to be part of this effort."
Instead of applicants going to multiple agencies, a single lead agency will coordinate all permits and approvals. The new process will keep applications on track by requiring agencies to set and meet clear deadline and improve transparency by creating a single record to be posted on line. The MOU does not alter the authority of any participating agencies, and all existing environmental reviews and safeguards are maintained fully.
The MOU is online at http://www.doi.gov/documents/MOU-TransmissionSitingonFederalLands_001.pdf
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