,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ajag  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #ba1 #bjae,mr4  
,he9ri* introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0  
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,en]gy & ,natural ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  
,to am5d ! ,f$]al ,p[] ,act to improve !
 sit+ ( int]/ate electric transmission  
facilities1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,sit+
 ( int]/ate electric transmission       
facilities ,section #baf ( ! ,f$]al ,p[]
 ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #hbdp7 is am5d$ to 
read z foll[s3  #baf4 ,sit+ ( int]/ate  
electric transmission facilities  7a7   
,policy ,x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 t ! national int]/ate transmission     
sy/em %\ld be guid$ by ! goal ( maximiz+
 ! net b5efits ( ! electricity sy/em1   
tak+ into consid]ation--  7#a7 support =
 ! developm5t ( new1 clean] p[] g5]ation
 capacity1 includ+ r5ewable en]gy       
g5]ation locat$ di/ant f load c5t]s2    
7#b7 opportunities = r$uc$ emissions f  
regional p[] production2  7#c7          
transmission ne$s driv5 by public policy

 requirem5ts e/abli%$ by ,/ate or ,f$]al
 laws 7includ+ regulations72  7#d7 co/  
sav+s result+ f-- 7,a7 r$uc$            
transmission conge/ion2  7,b7 enhanc$   
opportunities = intr>egional &          
int]regional electricity trades2  7,c7  
r$uc$ l9e losses2  7,d7 g5]ation        
res\rce-%>+2 &  7,e7 enhanc$ fuel       
div]sity2  7#e7 reliability b5efits1    
includ+ satisfy+ reliability /&>ds &    
guidel9es = res\rce adequacy & sy/em    
security2  7#f7 div]sification ( risk   
relat+ to ev5ts affect+ fuel supply or  
g5]at+ res\rces 9 a p>ticul> region2    
7#g7 ! enhancem5t ( competition 9       
electricity m>kets & mitigation ( m>ket 
p[]2  7#h7 ! ability to collocate       
facilities on exi/+ rights-(-way2  7#i7 
compet+ l& use priorities1 includ+ l&   
protect$ "u ,f$]al or ,/ate law2  7#aj7 
! requirem5ts ( section #bag7;b77#d72 & 
7#aa7 ! contribution ( dem& side        
managem5t 7includ+ en]gy effici5cy &    
dem& response71 en]gy /orage1 di/ribut$ 
g5]ation res\rces1 & sm>t grid          

inve/m5ts4  7b7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is      
section3 7#a7 ,high-priority regional   
transmission project ,! t]m             
high-priority regional transmission     
project means an ov]head1 subm>9e1 or   
und]gr\nd transmission facility1 includ+
 conductors or cables1 t[]s1 manhole    
duct sy/ems1 reactors1 capacitors1      
circuit break]s1 /atic ,,v> comp5sators1
 /atic syn*ron\s comp5sators1 p[]       
conv]t]s1 trans=m]s1 syn*ron\s cond5s]s1
 brak+ resi/ors1 & any ancill>y         
facilities & equipm5t necess>y = ! prop]
 op]ation ( ! facility1 t is select$ 9 a
 regional transmission plan = ! purposes
 ( co/ allocation "u ,ord] ,numb] #ajjj 
( ! ,commission 7or any successor ord]71
 includ+ an int]regional project select$
 "u t plan4  7#b7 ,indian l& ,! t]m     
,indian l& means l&-- 7,a7 ! title to   
:i* is held by ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 tru/ = 
an ,indian tribe or individual ,indian2 
or  7,b7 t is held by an ,indian tribe  
or individual ,indian subject to a      
re/riction by ! ,unit$ ,/ates aga9/     

ali5ation or encumbrance4  7#c7 ,indian 
tribe ,! t]m ,indian tribe means any    
,indian tribe1 b&1 nation1 or o!r       
organiz$ gr\p or community1 includ+ any 
,alaska ,native village or regional or  
village corporation 7z def9$ 9 or       
e/abli%$ pursuant to ! ,alaska ,native  
,claims ,settlem5t ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4  
#afja et seq471 :i* is recogniz$ z      
eligible = ! special programs & s]vices 
provid$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to ,indians  
because ( _! /atus z ,indians4  7c7     
,sit+  7#a7 ,purposes ,! purpose ( ?is  
subsection is to ensure t high-priority 
regional transmission projects are 9 !  
public int]e/ & advance ! policy        
e/abli%$ "u subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,/ate 
review ( project sit+  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,no
 develop] ( a high-priority regional    
transmission project may seek a         
c]tificate = con/ruction "u subsection  
7d7 unless ! develop] fir/ seeks        
au?orization to con/ruct ! high-priority
 regional transmission project "u       
applicable ,/ate law conc]n+            

au?orization & r\t+ ( transmission      
facilities4  7,b7 ,f$]al au?ority ,!    
,commission may au?orize1 9 accordance )
 subsection 7d71 con/ruction ( a        
high-priority regional transmission     
project t ! ,commission f9ds to be      
requir$ by ! pres5t or future public    
conv5i5ce & necessity & 9 accordance )  
?is section if--  7i7 a ,/ate-- 7,i7    
fails to approve con/ruction & au?orize 
r\t+ ( a high-priority regional         
transmission project n lat] ?an #a ye>  
aft] ! date ! applicant submits a       
complet$ application = au?orization to !
 ,/ate2  7,,ii7 rejects or d5ies !      
application = a high-priority regional  
transmission project2  7,,iii7 au?orizes
 ! high-priority regional transmission  
project subject to conditions t         
unreasonably int]f]e ) ! developm5t ( a 
high-priority regional transmission     
project contr>y to ! purposes ( ?is     
section2 or  7,,iv7 does n h au?ority to
 approve ! sit+ ( ! high-priority       
regional transmission project2 or  7ii7 

! develop] seek+ a c]tificate =         
con/ruction "u subsection 7d7 does n    
qualify to apply = ,/ate au?orization to
 con/ruct a high-priority regional      
transmission project because ! develop] 
does n s]ve end-us]s 9 ! ,/ate4  7d7    
,con/ruction  7#a7 ,application =       
c]tificate  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,an applicant 
= a high-priority regional transmission 
project may apply to ! ,commission = a  
c]tificate ( public conv5i5ce &         
necessity ) respect to con/ruction ( !  
high-priority regional transmission     
project only "u a circum/ance describ$ 9
 subsection 7c77#b77;,b74  7,b7 ,=m ,!  
application = a c]tificate %all be made 
9 writ+ 9 su* =m & conta9+ su* in=mation
 z ! ,commission may by regulation      
require4  7,c7 ,he>+ ,on receipt ( an   
application "u ?is p>agraph1 !          
,commission-- 7i7 %all provide public   
notice & opportunity = he>+2 &  7ii7 may
 approve 7) or )\t conditions7 or       
disapprove ! application1 9 accordance )
 p>agraph 7#b74  7,d7 ,adm9i/ration  7i7

 ,9 g5]al ,! ,commission %all act z !   
lead ag5cy = purposes ( coord9at+ all   
applicable ,f$]al au?orizations & relat$
 environm5tal reviews = a high-priority 
regional transmission project "u ?is    
section4  7ii7 ,coord9ation ,to !       
maximum ext5t practicable1 ! ,commission
 %all-- 7,i7 coord9ate ! ,f$]al         
au?orization & relat$ environm5tal      
review process ) any ,indian tribe1     
multi/ate entity1 or ,/ate ag5cy        
responsible = conduct+ any sep>ate      
p]mitt+ or environm5tal review ( a      
high-priority regional transmission     
project2 &  7,,ii7 ensure timely &      
effici5t review & p]mit decisions4      
7iii7 ,timel9e ,! ,commission1 9        
consultation ) ! applicable ag5cies     
describ$ 9 clause 7ii77,i7 & consi/5t ) 
applicable law1 %all e/abli% a coord9at$
 project plan ) mile/ones = all ,f$]al  
au?orizations describ$ 9 clause 7i74    
7#b7 ,grant ( c]tificate  7,a7 ,9 g5]al 
,a c]tificate %all be issu$ to a        
qualifi$ applicant = a c]tificate       

au?oriz+ ! :ole or p>tial op]ation1     
con/ruction1 acquisition1 or            
modification cov]$ by ! application1 if 
! ,commission det]m9es t ! propos$      
op]ation1 con/ruction1 acquisition1 or  
modification1 to ! ext5t au?oriz$ by !  
c]tificate1 is requir$ by ! pres5t or   
future public conv5i5ce & necessity4    
7,b7 ,t]ms & conditions ,! ,commission  
%all h ! p[] to atta* to ! issuance ( a 
c]tificate "u ?is p>agraph & to !       
ex]cise ( ! rights grant$ "u !          
c]tificate su* reasonable t]ms &        
conditions z ! public conv5i5ce &       
necessity may require4  7,c7 ,record (  
,/ate proce$+ ,any p>ty1 includ+ !      
,/ate1 to a ,/ate proce$+ 9 :i* an      
application = a high-priority regional  
transmission project 0 reject$ or d5i$  
may file ) ! ,commission = its          
consid]ation any portion ( ! record ( ! 
,/ate proce$+4  7,d7 ,public conv5i5ce &
 necessity ,9 mak+ a det]m9ation )      
respect to public conv5i5ce & necessity1
 ! ,commission %all consid] :e!r !      

facilities cov]$ by an application are  
includ$ 9 an ,int]connection-wide       
transmission grid plan = a high-priority
 regional transmission project4  7#c7   
,"r ( em95t doma9 ,if any hold] ( a     
c]tificate issu$ "u p>agraph 7#b7 _c    
acquire by contract1 or is unable to    
agree ) ! own] ( prop]ty on !           
comp5sation to be paid =1 ! necess>y    
"r-(-way to con/ruct1 op]ate1 & ma9ta9 !
 high-priority regional transmission    
project to :i* ! c]tificate relates1 & !
 necess>y l& or o!r prop]ty necess>y to 
! prop] op]ation ( ! high-priority      
regional transmission project1 ! hold]  
may acquire ! "r-(-way by ! ex]cise ( ! 
"r ( em95t doma9 9--  7,a7 ! ,unit$     
,/ates di/rict c\rt = ! di/rict 9 :i* ! 
prop]ty is locat$2 or  7,b7 a ,/ate     
c\rt4  7#d7 ,f$]al1 ,/ate & tribal      
recomm5dations ,9 grant+ a c]tificate "u
 p>agraph 7#b71 ! ,commission %all--    
7,a7 seek f ,f$]al res\rce ag5cies1     
,/ate regulatory ag5cies1 & affect$     
,indian tribes recomm5d$ mitigation     

measures1 bas$ on habitat protection1   
environm5tal consid]ations1 or cultural 
site protection2 &  7,b7 7i7 incorporate
 ^? id5tifi$ mitigation measures z      
conditions to ! c]tificate2 or  7ii7 if 
! ,commission det]m9es t a recomm5d$    
mitigation measure is inconsi/5t ) !    
purposes ( ?is section or ) o!r         
applicable provisions ( law1 is         
infeasible or n co/-effective1 or = any 
o!r reason--  7,i7 consult ) ! ,f$]al   
res\rce ag5cy1 ,/ate regulatory ag5cy1 &
 affect$ ,indian tribe to seek to       
resolve ! issue2  7,,ii7 incorporate z  
conditions to ! c]tificate su* recomm5d$
 mitigation measures z are det]m9$ to be
 appropriate by ! ,commission1 bas$ on  
^? consultations & ! record be=e !      
,commission2 &  7,,iii7 if1 aft]        
consultation1 ! ,commission does n adopt
 9 :ole or 9 "p a recomm5dation ( an    
ag5cy or affect$ ,indian tribe1 publi% a
 /atem5t ( a f9d+ t ! adoption ( !      
recomm5dation is infeasible1 n          
co/-effective1 or o!rwise inconsi/5t )  

?is section or o!r applicable provisions
 ( law4  7#e7 ,/ate or local            
au?orizations ,an applicant receiv+ a   
c]tificate "u ?is subsection ) respect  
to con/ruction or modification ( a      
high-priority regional transmission     
project 9 a ,/ate %all n be requir$ to  
obta9 a sep>ate sit+ au?orization f !   
,/ate or any local au?ority )9 ! ,/ate4 
7#f7 ,rights-(-way ov] ,indian l&       
,not)/&+ p>agraph 7#c71 9 ! case ( sit+1
 con/ruction1 op]ation1 & ma9t5ance ( a 
transmission facility to be locat$ on or
 ov] ,indian l&1 a c]tificate hold] "u  
?is section %all comply ) ! requirem5ts 
( ,f$]al law = obta9+ rights-(-way on or
 ov] ,indian l&4  7e7 ,relation%ip to   
o!r laws  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z       
specifically provid$ 9 ?is section1 no?+
 9 ?is section affects any requirem5t ( 
an environm5tal or hi/oric pres]vation  
law ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 includ+--  7,a7 !
 ,national ,environm5tal ,policy ,act ( 
#aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq472    
7,b7 ! ,wild]ness ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4   

#aaca et seq472 or  7,c7 ! ,national    
,hi/oric ,pres]vation ,act 7#af         
,u4,s4,c4 #dgj et seq474  7#b7 ,/ate law
 ,no?+ 9 ?is section precludes any p]son
 f con/ruct+ or modify+ any transmission
 facility 9 accordance ) ,/ate law4  7f7
 ,applicability  7#a7 ,project develop]s
 ,no?+ 9 ?is section precludes !        
developm5t1 subject to applicable       
regulatory requirem5ts1 ( transmission  
projects t are n select$ 9 a regional   
transmission plan4  7#b7 ,exclusions    
,?is section does n apply 9 ! ,/ate (   
,alaska or ,hawaii or to ! ,electric    
,reliability ,c\ncil ( ,texas4  4