Arkansas Puts Hold On Wind Energy Transmission Line

Arkansas’ two Republican senators say they will place a hold on a confirmation vote for a U.S. Department of Energy nominee because of their concerns over a proposed wind-energy transmission line that would cross the state.

U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton said Wednesday they will place a hold on the confirmation vote for Victoria Wassmer, who is President Barack Obama’s nominee for the department’s undersecretary for management and performance.

A Senate committee advanced Wassmer’s nomination last month.

Boozman and Cotton say they haven’t received sufficient responses from the Energy Department regarding their concerns over the Plains and Eastern Clean Line Transmission Project.

The 700-mile, high-voltage wind energy transmission line would start at the Oklahoma Panhandle and traverse through Arkansas and a part of Tennessee.