VALENTINE, Neb. - The Department of Energy (DOE) is moving forward with plans for three National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, including the Tribal Energy Access Corridor, which would pass through parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and five tribal reservations. The proposed route includes areas such as Valentine, Ainsworth, the Pine Ridge Reservation, and the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

According to the DOE, a lack of transmission infrastructure can lead to higher electricity prices, more frequent power outages due to extreme weather, and longer recovery times when the grid goes down. However, expanding electric transmission can take years due to the permitting, siting, and regulatory processes, especially when projects span multiple states and regions.

The DOE is seeking public input on the proposed corridors, and the deadline for comments has been extended through April 15, 2025. Those interested in voicing their opinions can email NETC@hq.doe.gov.

The DOE had identified additional transmission corridors, including the Midwest-Plains and Plains-Southwest corridors, but lawmakers and concerned citizens encouraged the DOE to no longer pursue those plans.

“Kansans made it clear from the very beginning that we were not interested in the federal government seizing our private land,” said U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas). “I heard countless concerns from Kansans who were displeased with the Department of Energy’s overly vague proposal and the lack of engagement with landowners. I worked to force the Department of Energy to provide clarity and introduced legislation to prevent the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to seize any private property for the corridor. I also made it clear that the federal government should not override decisions made by Kansas state regulators who are more directly impacted by the proposal.” 

“Kansans should always determine what is built in Kansas, not federal bureaucrats. This proposal represented a dangerous overreach of federal authority, turning our backyards into pathways for delivering energy to the coastal elites,” said U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (Kansas).

The proposed Tribal Energy Access Corridor was identified following a National Transmission Needs Study, which found that the "Plains" region has both immediate and future transmission needs. According to the DOE, the corridor would connect multiple tribal reservations to existing or developing high-voltage transmission lines.

“It follows existing transmission line rights-of-way for most of its path and includes multiple sections, ranging from two to fifteen miles wide,” the DOE says on its website.

Preliminary findings suggest the project could help alleviate grid congestion, lower consumer costs, integrate more clean energy, and support future energy demand. Additionally, the DOE says the corridor could promote tribal energy and economic development by addressing the region’s lack of extra high-voltage transmission infrastructure.

Before implementing any financing programs, the DOE says it will assess potential impacts on human health and the environment, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).