Dear (government official):

I oppose the inclusion of counties in (my state) as part of a federal National Interest Electric Transmission (NIET) Corridor. The Department of Energy (DOE) in designating its corridors ignored concerns raised by thousands of American citizens. I specifically oppose the massive Mid-Atlantic Area NIET Corridor due to its significant potential for infringement on the rights of landowners and the states in which they reside.

Never before in the history of our country have electric utilities obtained the federal power of condemnation to site transmission lines. This misguided decision circumvents the Constitution of the United States, disregards state energy policy, and undermines local land-use planning. Our communities deserve to be protected from this abuse of federal power.

I ask as a resident of (my state) that the government through your offices challenge the DOE's decision to include our counties in the Mid-Atlantic Area NIET Corridor. Please take whatever legal action is necessary, to include filing an application for rehearing and appealing the decision in the federal court system. I further ask that you contact appropriate government officials in other states in the Mid-Atlantic region and urge them to challenge this decision as well.

Sincerely,

(your name and address)

SAMPLE LETTER FOR VA:

Dear (Governor Kaine, Attorney General McDonnell):

I appreciate your letter of July 6, 2007, to Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman opposing Virginia's inclusion in a proposed National Interest Electric Transmission (NIET) Corridor designation.

Unfortunately, despite strong objections from local, state, and federal elected representatives whose citizens would be affected, and notwithstanding the written comments and oral testimony of hundreds of individuals objecting to the proposed designation, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an order designating a Mid-Atlantic Area NIET Corridor. This corridor designation will remain in effect for 12 years. Throughout this period, Virginians will face the prospect of federal reviews of transmission line projects that the State Corporation Commission may reject as inconsistent with the best interests of Virginia's energy consumers or incompatible with the Commonwealth's energy planning process.

As a resident of the Commonwealth strongly concerned about the effects of this corridor designation, I ask that you request rehearing on behalf of Virginia State Government. Requesting rehearing will challenge the determination by the DOE to include our communities in the Mid-Atlantic Area NIET Corridor. It also will ensure that the Commonwealth exhausts all of its administrative remedies, a prerequisite for initiating court action at a later date. I further ask that you coordinate the Commonwealth's rehearing request with neighboring states impacted by this ill-advised decision and urge them jointly to challenge the DOE's decision.

If the DOE fails to grant rehearing of its order designating the Mid-Atlantic Area NIET Corridor, I request that you use the power of Virginia government to bring suit to overturn the designation. Either a separate state action or perhaps a multi-state suit would address the issues that concern Virginians.

Left unchallenged, the DOE's order has profound, negative effects on the Commonwealth's authority, local land-use planning, environmental and historic resources, and the Virginia Energy Plan. The order also potentially undercuts any motivation for utilities to develop balanced electricity solutions that consider conservation, additional generation, and demand response along with new transmission lines.

Finally, never before have electric utilities obtained the Federal power of condemnation to site a transmission line. Transferring this governmental right to for-profit business entities, especially after states have specifically decided not to approve a project, is an abuse of power and an unwarranted encroachment on an individual's fundamental right to the enjoyment of private property.

For all of these reasons, I ask that you act forcefully to protect the interests of individuals, our communities and the Commonwealth by continuing to oppose, in every appropriate forum, the DOE's designation of a NIET Corridor that includes Virginia counties and citizens.

Thank you.

(your name and address)

nietc@maccec.org