Bob Lazaro, PEC Communications Director

540.454.2742

Tom Andrews, Majority Leader DeWeese, Press Secretary

717.783.4267

Andy Loza, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Land Trust Association

717-230-8560

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PROPOSAL THREATENS
FEDERAL CONDEMNATION IN 8 STATES

(Warrenton, Virginia) A proposal released last week by the US Department of Energy regarding the designation of National Interest Electric Transmission (NIET) corridors threatens property owners in eight states with Federal condemnation, yet the Department is holding only three meetings in an eight state region prior to making a decision on the NIET corridors. The Piedmont Environmental Council has sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Bodman outlining the organization’s opposition to the proposal and objection to the lack of public input.

"The Department of Energy in a nearly one-year period met with utility industry representatives and other energy special interests more than 60 times, yet they are giving millions of residents in an eight state region only three opportunities to have their voices heard during working hours," said Christopher G. Miller, President of the PEC. "It would appear that citizens are being disenfranchised by the Department."

"The Department’s proposed meeting schedule is an insult to the people of the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese. "The fact that the Department of Energy is proposing to designate these corridors to cross at least 50 counties in the Commonwealth without any public input from anyone shows a lack of consideration and rejection of the hardworking citizens of Pennsylvania.  The DOE must come to every county impacted by this proposal to hear from our citizens." Majority Leader DeWeese recently testified at a U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee hearing on this issue.

"DOE is forcing an unprecedented proposal on the states that will destroy scenic and natural landscapes, condemn private properties and ignore sensible alternative energy options. The DOE needs to listen to the public on this matter," said Andy Loza, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association.

The PEC in its letter to the Secretary of Energy is calling upon the Department to hold public meetings in each of the counties affected by the Department’s proposal. "It is fundamentally undemocratic for the Department to hold so few meetings during normal working hours as their effort to take public comment. They must do more," concluded Miller.