February 14, 2011 - renewable energy and transmission needs

As more renewable energy projects are built around the nation, the increase in energy produced - as well as shifts in where that energy is produced - may drive the need for new transmission lines to connect green power to customers.  For example, in New England, these pressures are behind transmission projects like the Northern Pass and the Champlain-Hudson Power Express.  This kind of transmission development raises questions like who should pay for these lines, as well as whether the lines will provide any benefit to the people living in states they cross.

Utah is facing these same questions, thanks to the proposed $3 billion TransWest Express transmission line project.  If built, this 725-mile long 600 kilovolt DC transmission line would connect Sinclair, Wyoming to a substation near Boulder City, Nevada.  The line is designed to transmit energy from up to 3,000 MW of wind projects east of the Rocky Mountains to customers in southern California, Arizona, and Nevada.  Although 429 miles of the transmission line would cross Utah, the project as currently proposed would not include any offramps to connect Utah customers with that renewable power.

 

Utah does not have a renewable portfolio standard (RPS).  RPS programs require utilities to source certain amounts of the electricity they sell to customers from renewable power.  Utah does have a statutory renewable goal of 20% of adjusted retail sales by 2025, but utilities are required to pursue renewable energy only to the extent that it is "cost-effective" to do so.  California, Arizona, and Nevada - the states that will be served by the TransWest Express transmission line - do have RPS requirements, as do most other states in the nation.

How will Utah respond to the TransWest Express proposal?  Is there desire in the state to be able to buy the renewable power that will be winging its way westward through the transmission line?  Can the state obtain any benefits in exchange for permitting the line to cross its lands?

12/18/09: ME CA transmission lines approved, bumpy roads, no more Candu reactors

Maine:

The PUC (press release) has approved Bangor Hydro's 42-mile 115 kV electric transmission line between Ellsworth and Harrington, noting that the line will improve the reliability and increase grid capacity in Hancock and Washington Counties. BHE projects construction to run from 2011-2012. An order will follow soon.

California:

The Cal. PUC has approved construction of the last component of So. Cal. Edison's $1.8 billion Tehachapi project transmission lines required to interconnect new wind capacity with the grid. Construction will start in 2010, with the line expected to be energized in 2014.

USA:

The AP reports that counties and towns are letting paved roads revert to gravel to save money -- a good example of reevaluating just how good an infrastructure we're willing to buy.

Canada:
Ottawa announced that it will privatize the nuclear power unit of Atomic Energy of Canada -- the maker of the Candu reactors. Ontario was the primary market for Candus, but this summer the province declined to order more Candus due to cost -- even though Ontario is phasing out coal-fired electric power. Areva, Hitachi, and Westinghouse/Toshiba are potential buyers, all of whom are more likely interested in AEC's market, not the Candu design.