On Tuesday, October 2, 2007, the Secretary of the US Department of Energy, Samuel Bodman, designated more than 116,000 square miles (from upstate New York through Ohio) for inclusion in the mid-Atlantic National Interest Electric Transmission corridor.

This is precedent setting as it provides electric utilities for the first time in United States history access to the Federal power of condemnation for the siting of high-voltage transmission lines. Such an action undermines state and local planning processes and the recently announced State Energy Plan by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.

PEC's statement in reaction to the designation:

The action announced by the Department of Energy is outrageous. It is apparent that the testimony of literally hundreds of citizens has been ignored and the properties of nearly 50 million residents who reside within the so called mid-Atltantic corridor are at risk. We believe that the States impacted by this ill-advised decision must join together to challenge this designation.

About the Mid-Atlantic Corridor

• Total Population: 49.1 million (2006 Census Bureau Estimates)
• Total Area in Square Miles: 116,627 square miles
• Total Acres: 70,697,112 acres

In Depth Resources

Map: DOE Mid-Atlantic Corridor Designation

Map: National Designation Benefits Nation's Oldest Dirtiest Power Plants

Interactive Map: National Designation Benefits Nation's Oldest Dirtiest Power Plants