The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been working on a nationwide grid for renewable energy, specifically wind-powered. In response, the Coalition for Fair Transmission Policy, including investor-owened utilities, public power entitiues, elected officials and state energy officials, is trying and stop the plan from being approved.
One of the main arguments, made by Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, is that it is unfair to some of the “middle-man” states that would carry the transmission lines, but not benefit from them, and still have to pay for them. That argument is not necessarily against the plan itself, just how the cost would be distributed. Senator Robert Corker of Tennessee successfully amended the bill so that it would require only those who benefit from the system to pay for it.
Another major argument is fully against the system, not just the cost allocation. Opponents have claimed that the system would be biased and harmful to local energy resources.
The Energy Department stresses how much more valuable wind energy will become once it was available nationally. Levels would average out and a stead supply could be predicted. They explain that it would be similar to an interstate highway system, like an “overlay,” connecting to local, pre-existing roads, but connecting those roads nationally.
The Energy Department already has $60 million from the Recovery Act to be put towards national grid planning. Regional planning is more common the West coast than the East, but attempts were made last year to put together a national plan. That attempt failed when participating officials left the discussions.
