Federal officials debate placement of power grid

WASHINGTON


“We cannot let 231 state regulators hold up progress,” Reid said, referring to the members of state public utility commissions that decide on transmission locations in the states. He said states should be given every opportunity to participate but that “there may come a time when the federal government will have to step in,” including directing the taking of land for grid corridors.

A clean energy conference that included former Vice President Al Gore and former President Bill Clinton focused extensively on the need for a national “smart” grid to transport electricity, including an expansion of the system to bring wind and solar energy from remote locations to the nation’s cities.

AP