Overview
- The Department of Energy has dropped the Southwestern Grid Connector, the Lake Erie–Canada Corridor, and the Tribal Energy Access Corridor, ending plans to use those National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor designations to ease siting for new power lines.
- NIETC designations were meant to make it easier for developers to build across private and public lands in regions with high prices or frequent outages by streamlining federal siting authority.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the move as a rejection of a climate-focused agenda and said transmission policy should prioritize local concerns and lower costs.
- The agency did not abandon transmission support: it is offering billions in loans for other projects and is fast-tracking environmental review and permitting for select lines, including the North Plains Connector.
- Industry and local leaders say the reversal increases uncertainty for long-term grid planning because corridor designations can be reversed between administrations, so DOE plans to 'recalibrate' the NIETC approach to better align with local priorities.