New transmission lines are sometimes necessary to improve reliability and reduce costs in transmission constrained areas, to allow for the retirement or reduced use of polluting plants in populated areas, and to connect new generating facilities to the electric grid. However, the planning for and siting of new transmission lines involves a number of complex and critical reliability, economic, social, environmental, and technical issues that must be examined before informed decisions can be made and the required permits issued.

New transmission lines often have adverse environmental impacts on the communities and ecosystems located along the proposed rights-of-way. The siting of new transmission lines also raises significant social and environmental justice issues concerning the low income and/or minority neighborhoods and communities that are located near the new lines. These issues must be addressed in a responsible and informed manner.

Unfortunately, the planning process for new lines frequently considers the construction of a new transmission as the only feasible option, while neglecting a comprehensive range of resource alternatives. Consequently, many renewable and demand side options and alternatives such as distributed generation are not considered in the transmission planning process.

Transmission planning and siting also raises complicated questions concerning the allocation and payment of the costs associated with building new transmission lines and adding other electric system upgrades.

	Analysis of the need for proposed transmission lines to eliminate or reduce costs in constrained areas and/or to improve system reliability
	Analysis of the economic costs and benefits of proposed transmission lines versus alternative resource options
	Evaluation of undergrounding versus overheading relocated and new transmission lines
	Analysis and involvement on behalf of clients in regional transmission planning processes
	Evaluation of the impacts of new transmission lines along the proposed and alternative rights-of-way
	Analysis of the impact of new transmission projects on financial transmission rights and the associated auction revenue rights for load customers
	Evaluation of regional system planning processes to ensure “least cost” proposals (including non-transmission alternatives) for identified system problems
	Examination and analysis of FERC 888 open access transmission tariff structures and related issues, including cost allocation impacts, Canadian border import/export issues and other seams effects