Committee debates multistate transmission compact; sponsor withdraws bill for study

Representative Zach Graemeck presented legislation to authorize an interstate compact to coordinate siting, permitting and long‑range planning for high‑voltage transmission lines in the Mid‑South region. The bill would create a multi‑state transmission council charged with preparing annual reports and recommending changes to state rules and laws intended to lower the cost and shorten timelines for constructing new transmission capacity.

The sponsor said the compact is intended to “lower the cost of the construction, new high voltage transmission infrastructure, and facilitate the expansion of transmission capacity through cost effective transmission planning and siting and construction,” and stressed the proposal would not itself build projects or displace regional transmission organizations (RTOs). He also said the compact requires additional states to join before it would have practical effect and described the bill as a “first step” to enable regional conversation about permitting and siting.

Supporters at the table included Mike Adair of American Powerplay, who described his organization as an advocacy group and said the compact would be “purely a vehicle for communication, formal communication between the…