WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today released the following statement after the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the proposed Delta-Plains Electric Transmission Corridor in Oklahoma would not be included as DOE moves forward.
“My team and I have been in contact with the Department of Energy and received the welcome news that the threat of federal eminent domain to Oklahoma landowners is gone. The Biden Administration has worked against landowners in Oklahoma for years and I’m pleased to see that our efforts to push back on their terrible policies is working. This is a huge win for Oklahoma landowners,” said Lankford.
Background: In 2021, the Democrats passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which gave authority to the Department of Energy to start the rulemaking process to designate National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors.
There was an initial selection and announcement of 10 proposed corridors made in May, 2024 that have now been narrowed down to three proposed corridors.
While the Department of Energy is no longer considering the Delta-Plains Corridor, the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor is still being considered. That Corridor would follow many existing transmission tracks, but would touch the western edge of the Oklahoma panhandle between New Mexico and Colorado. Following the Department of Energy’s announcement today that the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor is still being considered, the 60-day public comment period begins today and will run until February 14, 2025.
On January 15, 2025, the Department of Energy will host an informational webinar on the Southwestern Grid Corridor at 3:00 PM Eastern. The registration link is here.
According to the Department of Energy, a National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor does not result in immediate transmission construction, eminent domain proceedings, taking of land, or impacts to existing land.
