Regional Transmission Planning
Idaho Wind Working Group
September 22, 2010
Bob Anderson
www.westerngrid.net
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About Western Grid Group
• 200 years state regulatory experience
– Former chairs, staff of 8 western PUCs
• 50 years experience as wind, solar, geothermal,
hydroelectric power developers
• Non-profit NGO
• Works with Governors, utilities, regulators, agencies,
advocates
• Formed 2003 to develop policies to accelerate
transition to sustainable electricity, win transmission
access for clean resources
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Two related programs
Western Renewable Energy Zones
(WREZ)
Sponsored by Western Governors’
Association
Regional Transmission Expansion
Planning (RTEP)
Project of the WECC
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WREZ background
WGA project
Identify renewable resource areas to justify 500kV
transmission
w/low environmental impact
Facilitate transmission
DOE funded
Kickoff May, 2008
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WREZ—Phase 1
Phase 1 report
June 2009
Identifies renewable energy zones (hubs)
Modeling tool for estimating delivered cost of
energy from zones
http://www.westgov.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21
9&Itemid=81
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Hubs
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Phase 2—Transmission Plans
Develop conceptual transmission plans
REZs to load
RTEP
Second part of presentation
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Phase 3—Joint Resource Procurement
• Identify WREZs of common interest to utilities
– IRP review
– Utility survey
– Modeling
• Engage state regulators & utilities in
coordinating resource development
– Survey, report, discussion groups
• Opportunities for other stakeholders
• Create critical mass of Tx needs in same
timeframe
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Déjà vu: Power plants
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Palo Verde
Colstrip
Bridger
Navajo
Four Corners
San Juan
Intermountain
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Déjà vu: Interstate Transmission
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Navajo
AC Pacific Intertie
DC Pacific Intertie
Southwest Power Link
San Juan – Vail
Colstrip
Intermountain DC
Mead-Phoenix, Mead-Adelanto
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Opportunities/advantages
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Economies of scale
Spreading cost & risk
Pooling financial resources
Match with multi-state transmission
Reduce timing & lumpiness issues
Greater public participation & acceptance
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Today’s barriers (real?)
• Renewables different from coal, nukes, gas
– Remote, fast, modular
– Often PPA (not utility-owned)
• Electric industry structure
– Independent G&T
– Separation of G&T in utilities
• Cost recovery risk
– Non-utility ownership
• Capital, financing
• Who pays for public benefits?
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More barriers (real?)
• Siting & cost allocation issues
• Integration of variable generators
• Regulatory & policy uncertainty
• RPS, Climate, carbon, RECs
• Planning
– Who’s in charge?
• Different state procurement rules
• Short term, utilities interested in close to
home resources
• New technology
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Phase 4—Permitting & Cost Recovery
• Permitting
– Siting
• Cost allocation
• Approach
– Consultant to identify barriers
– Workshop
• Understand barriers
• Explore solutions
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Stay tuned
• http://www.westgov.org/index.php?option=co
m_content&view=article&id=219&Itemid=81
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RTEP
• Program of Western Electricity Coordinating
Council (WECC)
– Transmission Expansion Planning Policy
Committee (TEPPC)
• Funded by DOE (ARRA)
• First Interconnection-wide plans
– 10-year plans, 2011, 2013
– 20-year plan, 2013
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Western Interconnection & subregions
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Plans will support
• Increased coordination
• Increased awareness
– how energy policy decisions impact transmission
reliability and cost
• Answering key policy questions at State,
Provincial, and Federal levels
• Information for use by decision makers
– Siting
– Cost allocation
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Who’s on first?
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Scenario Planning Steering Group
(SPSG)
• 25 stakeholders
• Guide the RTEP project
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Recommend load & resource scenarios to TEPPC
Review TEPPC’s annual study plan
Communicate with constituents
Outreach
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SPSG
• 5 Technology advocates
(wind/solar/geothermal/nuclear/coal/EE/DSM)
• 1 Transmission Owner/Operator
• 1 Lands protection advocate
• 1 Wildlife advocate
• 8 State Officials (PUC, Energy Office, Consumer Council)
• 1 Provincial Official
• 1 Canadian Utility Representative
• 2 Consumer Advocates
• 1 Environmental Representative from TEPPC
• 1 WECC Board member from TEPPC
• 1 SPG representative from TEPPC
• 1 LSE representative from TEPPC
• 1 Tribal representative
• 25 Total [7 TEPPC]
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NGO Participation
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Required by DOE
Advise, sit on SPSG
Funding for travel and other expenditures
Address technology and public interest concerns
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renewable resources
energy efficiency
demand-side management
land use
wildlife
consumer protection
air quality and climate change
carbon capture and sequestration (coal), and
advanced nuclear technologies.
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State Provincial Steering Committee
(SPSC)
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SPSC Work Groups
• Energy Efficiency
– Dian Grueneich, chair
• Grid Utilization
– Steve Oxley, chair
• Scenarios
– Jim Tarpey, chair
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RTEP timeline
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RTEP Likely outcomes
• More process, meetings, talk, reports
• More regional committees
• Interconnection-wide “Plans”
– WECC
– Subregional Planning Groups
• But,
– No new authority
• New transmission?
– Maybe
• Better information for decision makers
– Developers
– Investors
– Regulators
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Bob Anderson
Western Grid Group
PO Box 12105
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
775-588-8740
bob-a@sbcglobal.net
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