2009 Report - Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Figure 1.4 MISO Footprint
Transmission Line Expansion
Effective October 5, 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy designated all or
major portions of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, the District of
Columbia, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, as well as minor portions of Ohio
as the Mid-Atlantic Area National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor under
Section 1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The designation will remain in
effect until October 7, 2019. The corridor includes 52 out of Pennsylvania’s 67
counties. Section 1221 gives FERC authority to approve the construction or
modification of electric transmission facilities within a designated corridor if the
state does not approve an application within one year. 13 See Figure 1.5.
13 On February 18, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a decision reversing, vacating and
remanding key elements of FERC’s final rule implementing its backstop siting authority under Section 216 of the
Federal Power Act. In essence, the Court rejected FERC’s interpretation that it may exercise its backstop authority
when a state commission has affirmatively denied a permit application within one year. Piedmont Environmental
Council v. FERC, No. 07-1651 (4 th Cir. Feb. 18, 2009).
Electric Power Outlook for Pennsylvania 2008-2013 7