The designation of energy corridors on federal land in 11 Western states was mandated by Congress through the controversial Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the act contains numerous energy provisions, from extending daylight savings time to including more than $28 billion in tax breaks for coal, nuclear, oil, gas and electricity industries.

The bill also provides subsidies to encourage the development of alternative fuels and tax credits for conservation measures such as installing insulation at home or driving a hybrid vehicle. But opponents say it weakens environmental and public safety protections such as the Clean Water Act and the Public Utility Holding Company Act, which protects consumers from fraud and abuse by utility companies.

The energy corridors were needed to meet the increasing demand for energy in the West, according to the legislation.

The deadline for designating the energy corridors is August 2007.

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Section 368 of the bill directs the secretaries of the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy and Interior, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, tribal or local governmental entities, affected utility industries and other interested persons, to designate the following:

• Energy corridors for oil, gas and hydrogen pipelines and electricity transmission and distribution facilities on federal land in the 11 contiguous Western states.
• Incorporate the designated corridors into the relevant agency land-use and resource-management or equivalent plans.
• Ensure that additional corridors are promptly identified and designated.

One goal of the corridors is to improve the electricity transmission grid by enhancing reliability and capability and decreasing congestion, according to an Energy Department spokeswoman.

All officially designated corridors will be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, she said.

Following public meetings in October and November 2005 and ensuing public comments, the agencies developed draft maps for the proposed energy corridor routes. However, the proposed routes are subject to change until they are officially adopted in August of next year.

Additional information and current projected energy corridor routes are available at http://corridoreis.anl.gov/eis/pdmap/index.cfm.

-- Paul Fattig