HV power lines delayed due to court ruling


NFPA 70E Training

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 6 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$199
Coupon Price:
$149
Reserve Your Seat Today

NIETC 9th Circuit Ruling affirms stricter DOE compliance, halting fast-track transmission corridors pending NEPA review, state consultation, and environmental protection across Mojave Desert and Southwest, reshaping grid expansion and federal permitting for electricity demand.

 

Essential Takeaways

9th Circuit orders DOE to redo studies and consult states before fast-tracking transmission corridors under NEPA review.

  • Court vacates DOE's fast-track corridor designations
  • Requires NEPA review and robust state consultation
  • Mojave Desert and Southwest lands flagged for protection
  • Dozens of lawsuits culminate in 9th Circuit ruling

 

The federal energy department's plans to speed the placement of high-voltage transmission lines around the country has hit a roadblock - a new court ruling.

 

Energy officials started cooking up what they call "national interest electric transmission corridors" six years ago. That's when Congress proposed a law to create a fast-track process, allowing federal overrule on routes in some cases, that would direct more electricity to big cities.

Some corridors would cut through the Southwest United States, including California's Mojave Desert, as a California-Arizona link push drew attention. Almost immediately, environmental groups and state energy authorities objected.

The Wilderness Society and other activists said that federal environmental laws require more scrutiny when the government designates large swaths of land for construction. States including California objected that the federal Department of Energy didn't consult with local authorities, and Eastern states rejected corridors during the review as well.

More than a dozen separate lawsuits about these fast-track transmission corridors have been making their way through courts, many sparked when environmentalists sued the DOE in response. Now a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the environmentalists and the states.

Related News

Scottish North Sea wind farm to resume construction after Covid-19 stoppage

NnG Offshore Wind Farm restarts construction off Scotland, backed by EDF Renewables and ESB, CfD…
View more

Why Fort Frances wants to build an integrated microgrid to deliver its electricity

Fort Frances Microgrid aims to boost reliability in Ontario with grid-connected and island modes, Siemens…
View more

Bomb Cyclone Leaves Half a Million Without Power in Western Washington

Western Washington Bomb Cyclone unleashed gale-force winds, torrential rain, and coastal flooding, causing massive power…
View more

Opp Leader calls for electricity market overhaul to favor consumers over generators

Labor National Electricity Market Reform aims to rebalance NEM rules, support a fair-dinkum clean energy…
View more

New England Is Burning the Most Oil for Electricity Since 2018

New England oil-fired generation surges as ISO New England manages a cold snap, dual-fuel switching,…
View more

Why the shift toward renewable energy is not enough

Shift from Fossil Fuels to Renewables signals an energy transition and decarbonization, as investors favor…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Live Online & In-person Group Training

Advantages To Instructor-Led Training – Instructor-Led Course, Customized Training, Multiple Locations, Economical, CEU Credits, Course Discounts.

Request For Quotation

Whether you would prefer Live Online or In-Person instruction, our electrical training courses can be tailored to meet your company's specific requirements and delivered to your employees in one location or at various locations.