The U.S. Department of Energy will not move forward with three proposed National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors that were selected in December 2024, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced. The three corridors were the Lake Erie-Canada Corridor, the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor and the Tribal Energy Access Corridor.
Wright said an extensive review, including public feedback and stakeholder input, made clear the designation process for the three corridors "should not continue." He said transmission policy must serve the American people rather than special interests, and that the Trump Administration is committed to strengthening the grid with policies that prioritize "affordable, reliable, and secure electricity" for American families and businesses.
The release also said the previous administration had used the corridors to advance what it called a "Green New Scam agenda" and to "accelerate decarbonization." DOE said the existing designation framework proved ineffective at strengthening grid reliability or reducing electricity costs, and in some communities it contributed to confusion and concern about the scope and intent of NIETC authority.
Funding already flowing
DOE listed a series of transmission financing actions it has taken separately from the NIETC process.
| Date | Action | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | Loan guarantee to AEP Transmission to reconductor and rebuild nearly 5,000 miles of lines across five states | $1.6 billion |
| February 2026 | Loans to Southern Company subsidiaries Georgia Power and Alabama Power for generation and grid investment, including more than 1,300 miles of transmission and grid enhancement projects | $26.5 billion |
| March 2026 | Office of Electricity SPARK funding opportunity to increase grid capacity, reliability and affordability | $1.9 billion |
| July 2026 | Loan to AEP Texas to build, rebuild or reconductor more than 2,800 miles of lines | $3.3 billion |
| July 2026 | Draft 2026 National Transmission Needs Study, identifying transmission needs driven by growing electricity demand | -- |
DOE said the decision also aligns with existing energy policy, including the executive orders "Unleashing American Energy" and "Strengthening the Reliability and Security of the United States Electric Grid," along with Wright's February 2025 Secretarial Order, "Unleashing the Golden Era of American Energy Dominance."
