Consumers are frequently harmed from a lack of transmission infrastructure, which can directly contribute to higher electricity prices, more frequent power outages from extreme weather, and longer outages as the grid struggles to come back online. While these needs are urgent, building and expanding electric transmission often requires several years of permitting, siting, and regulatory processes, especially if the transmission line extends through multiple states and regions.
To expedite and streamline this process, the Federal Power Act authorizes the Secretary of Energy to designate any geographic area as a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) if the Secretary finds that consumers are harmed by a lack of transmission in the area and that the development of new transmission would advance important national interests in that area, such as increased reliability and reduced consumer costs.
Current Status: Phase 3 - Public Engagement
Update: On April 15, 2025, the initial public comment period for Phase 3 ended.
On December 16, 2024, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it is moving forward with three potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs) and issued a notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on the next steps of analysis and public engagement. Informed by the substantial comments received in Phase 2, DOE combined, narrowed, and refined the rough boundaries of four of the ten potential NIETCs from the preliminary list identified in May 2024 to form the boundaries of these three proceeding to Phase 3. DOE anticipates additional refinement during Phase 3 of the designation process. DOE is focusing on areas where it believes NIETC designation may be most valuable at this time to unlock federal tools to accelerate transmission deployment.
With the December announcement, DOE provided detailed maps with geographic information system (GIS) data for the geographic boundaries of the three potential NIETCs moving to Phase 3 and the names of known transmission projects under development within each. DOE is aware of potential impacts to military testing, training and operations and will continue working with the DoD Military Aviation and Assurance Siting Clearinghouse to address these impacts as these potential NIETCs are further refined in Phase 3.
Although DOE is identifying transmission projects under development within these potential NIETCs, any final NIETC designation is not a route determination for a specific transmission project, and any co-location of a project within a designated NIETC is not a predetermination or indication of the project’s overall eligibility for any DOE financing program. Prior to implementing any proposed action under a financing program, DOE will evaluate the impacts of any such proposed action on human health or the environment, as required by NEPA.
The Federal Register Notice (December 2024 and April 2025) sought input and comments on the possible scope of analysis for each of the potential NIETCs, including environmental, cultural, or socioeconomic effects should DOE designate any of the potential NIETCs, the contents of DOE’s proposed public engagement framework, and the unique public engagement and governmental consultation factors that DOE should account for in each potential NIETC.
Potential NIETCs
Map is a rough approximation for illustrative purposes only. GIS files are available to download. To view the maps, visit Geospatial Energy Mapper and select the Potential NIETCs mapping theme.
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Geographic Description
- Focused and refined from the Mid-Atlantic-Canada potential NIETC from the Phase 2 preliminary list
- Includes a narrower area in northern Pennsylvania, removing the Erie Bluffs State Park onshore in Pennsylvania
- Includes a wider area of Lake Erie than indicated in the Phase 2 potential NIETC maps
- Approximately one-quarter mile wide on land and 2 miles wide offshore
Preliminary findings indicate that transmission in the potential Lake Erie-Canada Corridor could:
- Maintain and improve reliability and resilience and increase clean energy integration, consistent with preliminary findings in Phase 2
- Provide interregional connections between Canada and the PJM Interconnection (PJM) region
- Provide needed resource adequacy support to PJM
DOE is aware of the following transmission project under development in the potential Lake Erie-Canada Corridor:
- Lake Erie Connector project by NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC
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Geographic Description
- Focused and refined from the Mountain-Plain-Southwest and Plains-Southwest potential NIETCs from the Phase 2 preliminary list
- Includes parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and the Oklahoma panhandle
- Adds portions of southeastern Colorado and New Mexico not in the Phase 2 potential NIETC maps
- Includes existing transmission lines and back-to-back high-voltage direct current substations that connect the seam between the Eastern and Western Interconnections
- Follows existing transmission line rights-of-way for parts of its path and includes multiple sections, ranging from three to fifteen miles wide
Preliminary findings indicate that transmission in the potential Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor could:
- Maintain and improve reliability and resilience, alleviate congestion, meet future generation and demand growth, and increase clean energy integration, consistent with preliminary findings in Phase 2
- Provide cross-interconnection and interregional connections between the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and WestConnect regions
DOE is aware of the following transmission project under development in the potential Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor:
- Heartland Spirit Connector project by NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC; and Southline Phase 3 project by Grid United
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Geographic Description
- Focused and refined from the Northern Plains potential NIETC from the Phase 2 preliminary list
- Includes parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska and Cheyene River Reservation, Pine Ridge Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Standing Rock Reservation, and Yankton Reservation
- Adds portions of central North Dakota, South Dakota, Cheyenne River Reservation, and Standing Rock Reservation that were not in the Phase 2 potential NIETC maps
- Connects multiple Tribal reservations to existing or under development higher-voltage transmission lines
- Follows existing transmission line rights-of-way for most of its path and includes multiple sections, ranging from two to fifteen miles wide
Preliminary findings indicate that transmission in the potential Tribal Energy Access Corridor could:
- Alleviate congestion and reduce consumer costs, increase clean energy integration, and meet future generation and demand growth, consistent with preliminary findings in Phase 2
- Facilitate Tribal energy and economic development by addressing a lack of extra high-voltage transmission
DOE is aware of the following transmission project under development in the potential Tribal Energy Access Corridor:
- Transmission and Renewables Interstate Bulk Electric Supply (TRIBES) Project by the Western Area Power Administration, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Oceti Sakowin Power Authority and three of its member Tribes, IBEW Local 1250, and Steelhead Americas
Public Engagement
The December 2024 announcement initiates Phase 3 of the NIETC designation process, during which DOE will determine the appropriate level of environmental review for each NIETC, if any, and conduct any required environmental review; engage with landowners, communities, and state and local governments; and conduct government-to-government consultation with affected Tribal Nations.
Upcoming milestones:
- Spring 2025: DOE begins review of comments and tailoring of public engagement plans for each corridor; DOE will continue to accept meeting requests, public comments, and questions on the potential NIETCs throughout Phase 3, but comments received during the public comment window will be the most helpful.
- Beginning in mid-2025: DOE makes a determination of the level of NEPA review for each potential NIETC and conducts any required environmental reviews under NEPA and other applicable federal statutes.
- 2026: DOE releases draft NIETC designation reports and draft environmental documents and opens public comment on both (end of Phase 3).
To stay updated on the NIETC designation process, subscribe to receive news and updates from GDO and select "National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) Updates." You can find regularly updated frequently asked questions and also reach out to the dedicated NIETC email inbox with questions NIETC@hq.doe.gov.
NIETC Process Phases
The four-phase NIETC designation process outlines guidance to assist the U.S. Department of Energy in independently identifying potential NIETCs. The process aims to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of a NIETC designation by identifying narrow geographic areas, meaningfully engaging stakeholders, and conducting any required environmental reviews.
On December 19, 2023, the Grid Deployment Office released final guidance for the NIETC designation process and opened the first 45-day window for public submission of information and recommendations on NIETC designation. The initial window for public submission for information and recommendations on NIETC designation closed on February 2, 2024.
- Webinar - The presentation slides and recording are available.
On May 8, 2024, the Grid Deployment Office released a preliminary list of potential National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors. The preliminary list initiates Phase 2 of the process that DOE plans to follow to designate NIETCs. NIETC designation unlocks valuable federal financing and permitting tools to spur construction of transmission projects within a NIETC to alleviate the consumer harms. The preliminary list identifies which potential NIETCs DOE is continuing to consider; provides maps with rough approximation of boundaries; provides high-level explanation of the basis for potential NIETCs; and opens a 45-day public comment period on potential NIETCs.
- Webinar - The presentation slides and recording are available.
Potential NIETCs Not Moving to Phase 3:
At this time, DOE will not move forward with the New York-New England, New York-Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest-Plains, Delta-Plains, or Mountain-Northwest potential NIETCs announced in Phase 2. DOE’s decision to not move forward with these potential NIETCs at this time does not mean these areas or other areas of the country do not have transmission needs.
The public engagement phase includes refining geographic boundaries of potential NIETCs, initiating any required environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable federal statutes, preparing a draft report, and conducting community engagement. Public activities will focus on DOE-led community engagement activities focused on potential NIETCs.
The designation phase includes issuing the final NIETC Transmission preliminary list of boundaries of potential designation report(s) and any required environmental reviews. Public activities will focus on areas of greatest transmission need and providing access to transmission developers in NIETCs for available federal financing and siting tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Findings from the National Transmission Needs Study, DOE’s triennial state-of-the-grid report.
- Critical public input gained through early and meaningful collaboration with affected states, Tribes, local communities, industry, and stakeholders.
- Information and recommendations relevant to transmission capacity constraints or congestion that harms consumers currently or in the future, and ongoing roadblocks to transmission development in those areas, such as permitting, siting, or regulatory issues.
- Information on whether one or more transmission projects are under development in those areas.
A NIETC is an area of the country where DOE has determined the lack of adequate transmission harms consumers and that the development of new transmission would advance important national interests in that area, such as increased reliability and reduced consumer costs. A NIETC designation can unlock Federal financing tools, specifically public-private partnerships through the $2.5 billion Transmission Facilitation Program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the $2 billion Transmission Facility Financing Program under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). NIETC designation does not constitute selection of, or a preference for, a specific transmission project for financial purposes. A NIETC designation also allows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue permits for the siting of transmission lines within the NIETC under circumstances where state siting authorities do not have authority to site the line, have not acted on an application for over one year, or have denied an application.
To learn more about the process, visit the Frequently Asked Questions.
Resources
- NIETC Phase 3 Lake Erie-Canada Corridor
- NIETC Phase 3 Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor
- NIETC Phase 3 Tribal Energy Access Corridor
- NIETC Phase 2 Preliminary List Public Release Document
- NIETC Final Guidance Document
- NIETC Guidance Document Fact Sheet
- NIETC Designation Process Graphic
- How Consumers Are Harmed by the Lack of Transmission
Contact Us
Questions and comments can be submitted to NIETC@hq.doe.gov.