LACROSSE, WI (WTAQ) - The Obama White House confirmed reports Wednesday that it’s starting a pilot project to speed up the reviews and approvals of seven electric transmission facilities.

One of them is the proposed Cap-X-2020 transmission line from Rochester Minnesota to the La Crosse area and western Wisconsin.

Utility regulators in both states have been reviewing the project for some time – and critics in western Wisconsin are among those questioning the need for the Cap-X line.

During a conference call with reporters, Lauren Azar of the U.S. Energy Department said it was important to speed up the process of granting permits for transmission lines. She said states have taken up to 15 years to act on some proposals.

Azar is a former member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission – and she’s been working on electric transmission issues for over 10 years. She said Cap-X and the other six projects would get a more coordinated review process by a number of federal agencies that currently consider power lines.

Other administration officials have said more transmission facilities are vital to compete in the global economy.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told reporters on Wednesday's conference call that utilities have expressed a need for more power generation.

Salazar said quote, “We have been working hard to figure out how we can get this done.”