BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- China is planning to reduce coal burning in smog-hit areas in the center and east of the country by using more non-local generated power, the State Grid said on Wednesday.

Power engineering institute proposals to build 12 cross-region power transmission lines have been submitted to the National Energy Administration for approval, said Zhang Zhengling, vice director of the development and planning division of the State Grid.

Under the plan, the first batch of lines will be completed in 2016. Eleven of the 12 lines will be built by the State Grid, one of the two grid giants in China, said Zhang.

Earlier this month, a State Council executive meeting included cross-region electricity transmission in its policy package targeting air pollution.