The need to rebuild and expand our nation's aging electric infrastructure has reached a critical juncture.

Experts such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation agree that the electricity transmission grid is severely congested and that major investment in the grid is absolutely vital to keeping electricity flowing in our region.

Further, PJM Interconnection, the independent organization responsible for ensuring electric reliability in the region, has concluded through its planning process that we will face reliability issues by 2011. Accordingly, PJM has directed the construction of new transmission lines to keeping electricity affordable, available and reliable.

Adequate electric infrastructure is crucial to the economic viability of our state. From energy independence and national security to local economic development and the retention of our existing businesses, a reliable electric delivery system is fundamental to all of us. Planning, permitting and building transmission lines takes years ... and time is of the essence if we want to avoid the kinds of electricity crises experienced in other parts of the country earlier in this decade.

As a result, efforts are underway to secure the continued reliability of our electric transmission infrastructure into the future by significantly upgrading the electric grid.

The Coalitions for Reliable Power are diverse coalitions of concerned citizens, business owners, public officials and labor leaders formed to support these projects and other efforts to expand and improve our electric infrastructure.

But we can't do it alone.

We need the support of other recognized leaders, like you, to join the coalition and help ensure all of us have access to an affordable and reliable supply of electricity now and for years to come.