On May 4th, 2009, Governors from 10 East Coast states sent a sign-on letter opposing the current House & Senate bills to expedite transmission line planning and siting. The states that signed on are Virginia (!), Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont.

The letter argues against a greater federal subsidy for long-distance transmission, stating that the focus should be on more local renewable generation, such as off-shore wind along the East Coast. Below is an excerpt from the letter:

"While we support the development of wind resources for the United States wherever they exist, this ratepayer-funded revenue guarantee for land-based wind and other generation resources in the Great Plains would have significant, negative consequences for our region: it would hinder our efforts to meet regional renewable energy goals with regional resources and would establish financial conditions in our electricity markets that would impede development of the vast wind resources onshore and just off our shores for decades to come."

"In addition, the legislative proposals for selective federal subsidy for certain land-based wind resources paired with the practice of dispatching the lowest cost available generation resource could result in surplus transmission capacity or artificially inflated energy prices for Midwest renewables being paid by east coast ratepayers. Such an outcome would have negative consequences for consumers, regional energy sufficiency and the environment.  Moreover, it is well accepted that local generation is more responsive and effective in solving reliability issues than long distance energy inputs."

—Letter from 10 East Coast Governors, May 4, 2009

• See the rest of PEC's transmission line information