U.S. Dept of Energy proposes cancellation of NIETC

South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB) joined the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the announcement that it plans to cancel three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETC) following extensive public input from communities, landowners, and agricultural stakeholders.

Speaking from a farm just outside of Pierre, South Dakota this afternoon, U.S. Department of Energy's Deputy Undersecretary Mike Kopp announced the proposed cancellation of the Lake Erie-Canada Corridor, the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor, and the Tribal Energy Access Corridor. The Tribal Energy Access Corridor runs primarily through South Dakota, with portions reaching into North Dakota and Nebraska.

State and local Farm Bureaus and their members played a key role in voicing concerns and influencing this decision.

"Farm Bureau supports a reliable and affordable electric grid, but transmission development must respect private property rights, state and local decision-making, and meaningful landowner involvement," said SDFB President Scott VanderWal.

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The decision to recalibrate these proposed corridors is an important reminder that landowners need a meaningful voice early in the process. For more information about the U.S. Department of Energy's NIETC project, please visit National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors webpage.