Conservationists support federal energy corridor plan

By CONNING CHU
Associated Press Writer
Jan 29, 2008

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- A federal plan to designate energy corridors through 11 Western states won support from a Laramie environmental group Tuesday despite being harshly criticized by residents of Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday.

Erik Molvar of Biodiversity Conservation Alliance said at a public hearing on the plan that his group commends the federal agencies in charge of the project for taking Wyoming's vast wildlife and nature reserves into account and altering corridor locations based on them.

The project to designate routes for power lines and natural gas pipelines is part of an energy bill Congress passed in 2005 to provide more energy to Western states. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management and several other federal agencies are overseeing the process.

The areas designated by the federal agencies are only "potential" locations for power lines and oil, natural gas and hydrogen pipelines, the Department of Energy's Laverne Kyriss said.

She said the aim for the 6,055 miles of energy corridors would be to improve energy reliability and relieve congestion.

The corridors as they're proposed right now would mostly cross federal land. About 86 percent would cross BLM land and another 11 percent would cover U.S. Forest Service land. Any private, state or tribal land that is involved would require more discussion, officials said.

Kyriss said the agencies have been seeking comments from the public this month and hope to gain feedback and suggestions on locations for the energy corridors.

Molvar said his group approved of most of the proposed corridor locations, with the exception of three routes through the Shirley Basin, Bates Hole and Jack Morrow Hills that might disrupt and further endanger dwindling wildlife species located there.

The group proposed alternate sites for the corridors in response.

Molvar and other attendees also encouraged federal agencies to promote the use of renewable win, geothermal, and thermal energies along corridors, when possible.

Proposed energy corridors also would cross Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.