Wes R. Wingen
Manager, Transmission Planning
wes.wingen@blackhillscorp.com
409 Deadwood Avenue • PO Box 1400
Rapid City, SD 57709-1400
P: 605.721.2268
F: 605.721.2735
February 20, 2015
Mr. Tracy Rolstad
Chair, WECC Technical Studies Subcommittee
Avista Corporation
1411 East Mission Ave
Spokane, WA 99220
Mr. Enoch Davies
WECC Technical Staff
Western Electricity Coordinating Council
155 North 400 West, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Re:
Black Hills Corporation 2015 Annual Progress Report
Gentlemen:
In accordance with reporting guidelines by the WECC Planning Coordinating Committee (PCC),
please find attached Black Hills Corporation’s 2015 Annual Progress Report on significant additions
and changes to our system. Black Hills Energy, Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power are combined with
Black Hills Power as a single NERC Registered Entity, so projects sponsored by BHE, CLF&P and
BHP would be included in this submittal. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Wes R. Wingen
Manager, Transmission Planning
Enclosure
cc: Jon Cichosz – SRWG Representative
TSS Members
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2015
A. Planned Transmission and Generation Projects
The WECC Progress Reports Policies and Procedures document is intended to provide
the policies and procedures for notification and reliability assessment requirements
related to projects planned within the Western Interconnection.
Projects subject to these policies and procedures include:
•
•
•
All generation projects (200 MW or greater) connected to the transmission system
through step-up transformers. In the context of these policies and procedures,
such projects include, but are not limited to, new generation plants, generation
repower or upgrades that may significantly alter the operation of the generation
facilities.
All new and upgraded transmission facilities with (voltage levels over 200 kV).
Such projects include, but are not limited to, new transmission facilities,
transmission re-designs or upgrades, permanent removal of existing transmission
facilities, or other changes (e.g., operating procedures) that may significantly alter
the operation of the transmission facilities.
Any facilities below these thresholds that may have a significant impact on the
reliability of the Western Interconnection.
I.
Teckla-Osage 230 kV Transmission Line (BHP)
The Teckla-Osage 230 kV line will consist of approximately 60 miles of 1272
ACSR ‘Bittern’ conductor on H-frame poles. The line will be constructed to
provide needed Common Use System (CUS) transmission capacity,
accommodate projected load growth, and increase Wyodak area stability
margins. Reliability analysis for this project was initially performed as part of
the 2008 BHBE LTP Study and the need reviewed in subsequent BHBE LTP
Studies.
The Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG) is a Sub regional
Planning Group in the Rocky Mountain Region and allows open participation
in its planning meetings to stakeholders interested in this project through the
WY/SD Common Use Subcommittee (WY/SD CUS). The requirements of
project coordination review for this project have been met through the CCPG.
http://www.westconnect.com/filestorage/WY_CUS_Update_(10Dec2014).pdf
The planned in-service date is 2016.
II.
Osage-Lange 230 kV Transmission Line (BHP)
The Osage-Lange 230 kV line will consist of approximately 75 miles of 1272
ACSR ‘Bittern’ conductor on H-frame poles. The line will be constructed to
provide needed Common Use System (CUS) transmission capacity and
provide an additional path to the Rapid City load center. Reliability analysis
for this project was initially performed as part of the 2008 BHBE LTP Study
and the need reviewed in subsequent BHBE LTP Studies.
2
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2015
The Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG) is a Sub regional
Planning Group in the Rocky Mountain Region and allows open participation
in its planning meetings to stakeholders interested in this project through the
WY/SD Common Use Subcommittee (WY/SD CUS). The requirements of
project coordination review for this project have been met through the CCPG.
http://www.westconnect.com/filestorage/WY_CUS_Update_(10Dec2014).pdf
The planned in-service date is 2016.
3
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
III.
2015
Boone-Nyberg 115 kV Upgrade Project (BHE)
This project is being coordinated with Public Service Company of Colorado
(PSCo) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission (TSG&T) for increased
reliability in the Rocky Ford/La Junta area of southern Colorado.
The project consists of a new double circuit 115 kV line between Boone 115
kV and Nyberg 115 kV substations, utilizing existing right-of-way where
possible and replacing the Boone – DOT Tap – Nyberg 115 kV transmission
line. New 115 kV line terminal positions are required at Nyberg and Boone
115 kV substations to integrate the new circuit.
The Colorado Coordinated Planning Group (CCPG) is a Sub regional
Planning Group in the Rocky Mountain Region and allows open participation
in its planning meetings to stakeholders interested in this project. The
requirements of project coordination review for this project have been met
through the CCPG. The planned in-service date is 2015.
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WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2015
B. Waiver of “Significant Impact Project” Status
The WECC Project Coordination Process document indicates that a waiver may be
requested based upon the following criteria:
•
•
IV.
The purpose of the transmission project is to serve local load.
The transmission project does not have significant impact on the operation of the
Western Interconnection.
Bill Durfee (Sundance) 230 kV Substation (BHP)
On July 10, 2012, Powder River Energy Corporation (PREC) submitted to
Black Hills Power a formal application for a new interconnection on the
existing Lookout-Hughes 230 kV line. The interconnection will consist of a
100 MVA 230/69 kV transformer and a three terminal 69 kV switching
station. The proposed location of the new interconnection is approximately 5
miles south of Sundance, Wyoming and was included in the 2013 & 2014
BHBE Local Transmission Planning Studies. The planned substation near
Sundance, Wyoming was formerly named the Bill Durfee 230 kV substation
at the end of 2013. The purpose of this project is to serve local load and
increase local reliability. It is not expected to have a significant impact upon
the operation of the Western Interconnection. The planned in-service date is
currently 2015.
The WECC 2014 List of Projects Requesting a Waiver of “Significant Transmission
Project” document includes the following BHP projects:
10. Bill Durfee (Sundance) 230 kV Substation (BHP)
Currently BHC has no requests for a waiver of “Significant Impact Project” status for
Black Hills Energy, Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power or Black Hills Power.
5
WECC Annual Progress Report for Black Hills Power
2015
C. Transmission Projects Completed, On-Hold or Cancelled
The following projects were listed in BHP Annual Progress Report 2014:
V.
St. Onge 230 kV Substation (BHP)
The St. Onge 230 kV substation project was identified to provide additional
230/69 kV transformation capacity in the northern Black Hills. The 2013
BHBE LTP Studies proposed an alternative to the St. Onge 230 kV substation.
The addition of a second Yellowcreek 230/69 kV transformer was determined
to be a more cost effective solution and the St Onge 230 kV substation project
was cancelled. The purpose of the Yellowcreek 230/69 kV transformer project
is to serve local load and increase local reliability. It is not expected to have a
significant impact upon the operation of the Western Interconnection. The
planned in-service date is currently 2018.
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