Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a final rule implementing section 216(h) of the Federal Power Act to accelerate the approval of interstate electric transmission projects. The new rule is expected to cut the average time to issue federal permits for transmission projects in half.  

Jill Tauber, Vice President of Litigation for Climate & Energy at Earthjustice issued the following statement in response:  

“Transmission is the backbone of the clean energy transition, and this rule will help ensure that our electricity grid can meet the growing demand for clean power. We applaud the Biden administration for taking action to accelerate the transmission permitting process, while maintaining strong environmental protections and stakeholder engagement requirements. 

“We look forward to working with DOE to expand and enhance the transmission infrastructure that is urgently needed to address the climate crisis and ensure that impacted communities are at the table. Smart policies that target the drivers of the transmission bottleneck and preserve environmental and community protections will help us build a clean energy future that leaves no one behind.”  

Earthjustice and our partners submitted comments on DOE’s proposed rule in 2023. We also  published a white paper outlining the hurdles to building new transmission lines and a solution set that federal agencies can implement under existing legal authorities.