Critical Win for Rep. Lauren Boebert & 4th District with NIETC Comment Deadline Extension
WASHINGTON D.C.-- After a strong public pressure campaign led by Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) and county leaders across Southeast Colorado, the Department of Energy (DOE) has extended the comment deadline for feedback on the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor of the National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) to Tuesday, April 15th. Rep. Boebert spoke directly to Energy Secretary Chris Wright about the serious concerns of county leaders across the 4th District on the lack of transparency in the process started by the Biden Administration, as well as farmers and ranchers who oppose a federal land grab that would impact their property rights.
"The extension of the public comment period for the NIETC is an important win for Southeast Colorado, public transparency, and private property rights,"said Congresswoman Boebert."County leaders, ranchers, farmers, and residents of all backgrounds now have additional time to express their concerns with this project instead of it being forced on us by the Biden Administration. I'm very thankful for the numerous counties and towns that joined me in speaking up for this public comment period extension and I'm grateful to Secretary Wright and his team at DOE for listening to the concerns of 4th District constituents."
Before the Federal Register is formally updated to submit comment, 4th District constituents are being encouraged to email a public comment to NIETC@hq.doe.gov with the subject line: 2024-29419 (89 FR 101597).
Last week, Congresswoman Boebert spoke at a meeting of the Prowers County Commissioners this week to offer her support and continue to fight for their community on this topic. In a similar fashion to Congresswoman Boebert's initial letter to the Department of Energy asking for an extension of the public comment deadline and consideration of stopping the project, Prowers, Bent, Baca, Kiowa, and Crowley Counties all passed resolutions criticizing the process run by the Biden Administration and joined Rep. Boebert in asking for more time to review the plan and submit feedback.
The Prowers County Resolution can be read HERE.
The Baca County Resolution can be read HERE.
The Crowley County Resolution can be read HERE.
The Bent County Resolution can be read HERE.
The Kiowa County Resolution can be read HERE.
The Town of Holly Resolution can be read HERE.
Background:
The National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (NIETC) was part of the Biden Administration's top-down approach to pushing federal control of energy infrastructure without balancing the rights of private property owners or understanding how these plans would hurt rural Americans
The Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor runs through Southeast Colorado, New Mexico, and the Oklahoma Panhandle and is one of only three remaining corridors as part of NIETC currently scheduled to move forward.
In an interview with The Fence Post which can be read HERE, Rep. Boebert laid out more concerns with the lack of transparency over the process.