Restoring Federal Authority for Transmission Siting

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) established a backstop transmission siting authority in response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, following the Northeast Blackout. However, this authority was never utilized due to court decisions that diminished its effectiveness. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, rectified this by reversing the limiting court decisions and reinstating a robust federal siting approach. This empowers the Department of Energy to designate national interest electric transmission corridors, reestablishing a framework for effective federal oversight in transmission infrastructure development.