The Biden administration announced today a new rule from the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at streamlining the permitting process for new electricity transmission projects. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm described the initiative as a move to simplify and accelerate the construction of green energy projects.
Under the new rule, a program called the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorization and Permits (CITAP) will be established to serve as the primary agency responsible for handling permits for new energy projects. Applicants will only need to prepare a single environmental impact statement for all federal authorizations, and the federal government will be mandated to respond to applications within a fixed timeframe.
This stands in contrast to the current process, which often involves obtaining permits from various agencies depending on the specific project requirements.
Granholm emphasized that CITAP is designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal permitting process for transmission infrastructure. The program is expected to assist energy infrastructure developers in meeting the projected 91 gigawatts of demand growth over the next decade.
CITAP will operate in three key ways:
Establishing the Department of Energy (DOE) as the primary point of contact between developers and federal agencies.
Enforcing a two-year deadline for federal agencies to issue all necessary authorizations and permits.
Requiring applicants to submit a public engagement plan demonstrating how projects will impact Tribes, local communities, and other stakeholders affected by new transmission lines.
Granholm hailed CITAP as a significant improvement over the current system, which often requires developers to navigate multiple independent permitting processes across different federal agencies.
Christina Hayes, executive director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, praised the CITAP proposal, noting that it represents a substantial leap forward from the existing system, which can lead to project delays spanning several years.
The inclusion of public engagement measures aims to address longstanding challenges facing the renewable energy sector, particularly opposition from local communities. Studies have shown that such opposition can derail a significant portion of proposed projects.
Coinciding with the announcement of the new rule, the Department of the Interior celebrated the activation of the Ten West Link transmission line from Arizona to California, expected to support the transmission of 3,200 megawatts of solar energy.
Since the start of the Biden administration, private companies have invested $77 billion in clean energy production and transmission, reflecting ongoing efforts to advance renewable energy initiatives.