WASHINGTON, DC-The United States Chamber of Commerce today applauded a move by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to issue two draft National Corridor designations for areas of the country that experience electricity congestion. "By designating these areas as National Corridors, DOE recognizes that electrical transmission congestion is adversely affecting consumers at a level so significant that it has become a national concern," said Bill Kovacs, Chamber vice president for Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs. "By designating these regions as National Corridors, the federal government can focus on these areas without impermissibly interfering in energy decisions made by states, regions, transmission providers and electric utilities." The areas designated are: a Mid-Atlantic National Corridor (covering parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and Virginia, and all of New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia); and a Southwest Area National Corridor (covering parts of California, Arizona and Nevada). Through Section 1221(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), Congress authorized the Department of Energy (DOE) to study electricity congestion throughout the United States and, where congestion is prevalent in identifiable regions and where it is in the national interest to address that congestion, designate those regions as National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (National Corridors). "DOE's draft National Corridor designations are an important step toward solving congestion problems the proper way: by encouraging new transmission facilities and letting the market dictate solutions to our energy challenges," said Kovacs. The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.