By Ryan Duey

The public comment period for the proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) will end at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 24.

This corridor, which includes a route through Washington County, is part of a broader effort by the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance interregional transfer capacity. This initiative aims to boost reliability, resilience, and clean energy integration, reduce congestion and costs, and accommodate future demand growth, according to a 2023 Needs Study.

The proposed corridor aligns with the existing cross-country transmission line, also designated for the Grainbelt Express, running north of Clifton, running northeast north of Linn and Greenleaf, and east to Marshall County.

The Midwest-Plains NIETC covers a 5-mile wide, 780-mile-long area spanning parts of Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. More details are available at: www.energy.gov/gdo/national-interest-electric-transmission-corridor-designation-process.