The U.S. government would gain broad new powers to determine where to build transmission lines that link renewable energy to the electric system under legislation to be unveiled by the Senate's top Democrat this week.The measure is likely to step up a long-simmering debate about the federal government's role in upgrading the U.S. transmission system.
Projects to bring wind, solar and geothermal power from remote areas to big cities have been hamstrung amid layers of regulatory hurdles. But speeding up the process by giving the federal government eminent domain - the power to seize land - could carry its own political peril if residents feel that the U.S. is insensitive to local needs.
Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid , D-Nev., plans to roll out the legislation this week, according to an aide. His efforts would mesh with growing calls from both environmentalists and U.S. business for Congress to concentrate more power in the hands of the federal government, something which would undercut state and local power....MORE
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