[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 43 (Monday, March 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13811-13812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04521]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of National Transmission Needs Study and 
Request for Comment

AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of 
availability of the draft National Transmission Needs Study for public 
review and comment.

DATES: DOE is currently accepting public comment from March 6, 2023 
through April 20, 2023. Comments must be sent to 
[email protected] by midnight EST, April 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are to submit comments electronically to

[[Page 13812]]

[email protected]. DOE's guidance is available at: 
www.energy.gov/gdo/national-transmission-needs-study.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adria Brooks, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Grid Deployment Office, via (202) 586-2006; or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO) is 
announcing the availability of the draft National Transmission Needs 
Study (Needs Study) and requests public comment on the draft.
    Section 216(a) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), as recently amended 
by section 40105 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), 
requires DOE to conduct a study of electric transmission capacity 
constraints and congestion every three years. The Needs Study 
implements that statutory provision and replaces what was formerly 
known as the National Electric Transmission Congestion Study.
    Pursuant to section 216(a)(1), DOE has consulted with states, 
Tribes, and appropriate regional reliability entities regarding the 
Needs Study, including by providing a consultation draft for review and 
comment by these entities, as well as through a series of six audience-
specific webinars following release of the consultation draft, and 
availability of DOE staff for phone calls and meetings. The draft Needs 
Study made available for public comment by this Notice reflects 
revisions made in light of the comments and input that DOE received 
from states, Tribes, and regional reliability entities.
    Pursuant to section 216(a)(2) of the FPA, the study would inform 
any decision to exercise DOE's National Interest Electric Transmission 
Corridor designation authority. The Needs Study will also inform DOE as 
it coordinates the use of other authorities and funding related to 
electric transmission. These include new authorities under the IIJA and 
existing DOE programs, such as grid-related research and development 
and financing authorities that support grid infrastructure development.
    Members of the public can visit GDO's website to access the public 
draft of the study as well as guidance for how to send comments or 
request further information at: https://www.energy.gov/gdo/national-transmission-needs-study. Comments will be made available publicly at 
the same website.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on February 
23, 2023, by Maria D. Robinson, Director of the Grid Deployment Office, 
pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That 
document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For 
administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of 
the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the 
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document 
of the Department of Energy. The administrative process in no way 
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-04521 Filed 3-3-23; 8:45 am]
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