Interconnection Level Transmission Planning and Analysis

Governors and public utility commissioners within the Western Interconnection share the goal of having an electricity generation and transmission system that is clean, secure, reliable and reasonably priced. Reaching that goal requires greater development and use of renewable energy resources and expansion of the existing transmission grid.

The Western Governors’ Association, Western Interstate Energy Board and Western Electricity Coordinating Council are working with diverse stakeholders through the Regional Transmission Expansion Project (RTEP) to analyze transmission requirements under a broad range of alternative energy futures and to develop long-term, interconnection-wide transmission expansion plans. Information on wildlife sensitivities and water availability is being developed to minimize impacts of potential future energy generation on already limited water resources, wildlife and other important land uses.

Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, this project will produce invaluable information in siting new transmission. The RTEP also will build upon earlier work by the WGA and DOE under the Western Renewable Energy Zones – Phase 1 initiative. Following is a short description of the work underway.

Task 1 - WREZ Phase 3

Task 2 - WREZ Phase 4

Task 3 – Wildlife Decision Support Systems

Funding within this project is being utilized by WGA and the Western Governors’ Wildlife Council to develop a useful and consistent source of mapped biological information throughout the West.  State wildlife agencies have launched 2-year pilot projects across the region to begin building transparent, GIS-based Decision Support Systems that will allow them and the public to better understand potential impacts to crucial wildlife habitat and important corridors.  This process will establish regionally consistent wildlife information, making it easier to minimize impacts when planning for future energy generation and transmission throughout the Western Interconnection.   These pilot projects will be invaluable to the ultimate development of wildlife DSSs in Western states.

Western states and provinces  established a State-Provincial Steering Committee (SPSC) to oversee the implementation of Topic B activities and to provide input into Topic A work.   The 25-member Steering Committee  includes representatives for governors, public utility commissions and the Canadian provinces of  Alberta and British Columbia. 

To date, the Steering Committee has established decision rules and procedures for public input; adopted a charter; established three work groups related to electricity demand, scenario development and grid utilization; nominated state representatives to the Scenario Planning Steering Group; and adopted a “living” work plan. 

In the execution of its work, the Steering Committee will, at a minimum, take into consideration the following: 

• Future demand, including potential demand from plug-in vehicles
• Demand reduction options
• Currently proposed transmission projects
• Economic and environmental implications, including greenhouse gas impacts from the electricity sector and related sectors, such as transportation
• Water and wildlife constraints
• Reliability and security needs
• State and consumer interests
• Effective integration of variable generation

The Committee’s deliberations will be open to all supply- and demand-side technology and policy options and reflect individual state/provincial energy policies.

Sample work to be performed:  

• Develop scenarios to submit to the WECC
• Participate in WECC technical analysis
• Engage SPSC in reviewing study requests and study results; make appropriate recommendations
• Participate in subregional planning groups
• Develop processes for integrating variable generation into the grid
• Review efficient use of the existing transmission system

Task 5 - Energy and Water Nexus

Water is a precious and limited resource, particularly in the western United States.  Western Governors have long recognized looming challenges with meeting demand and see the RTEP as an opportunity to develop and further the understanding of the impacts of our energy choices on water availability.  According to a report by the U.S. Department of Energy, by 2030, "(water) consumption by the electricity sector alone could equal the entire country’s 1995 domestic water consumption."

WGA will work with state water managers, energy offices, and regulators as well as other agencies authorities with responsibility for water supply management and electricity production to develop a better understanding of the impacts of our energy choices on water.  The information generated by this task will be important in the development and evaluation of scenarios generated under Topic A to ensure that the energy development scenarios can be accommodated within existing and future water resource constraints in the West.  Specifically, WGA will seek to:

• Incorporate existing water supply assessments in Western states into a decision support framework for integrated energy-water planning
• Evaluate electricity generation scenarios and their implications for water supply as part of Topic A
• Develop policies and/or programs to facilitate sustainable energy development in the context of economy-wide water availability

Related Activities

Other related activities that will inform the transmission analysis include:     

• Examine the potential for industrial and commercial energy efficiency to reduce demand for electricity
• Examine the potential impacts of plug-in electric vehicles on greenhouse gas emissions and electricity demand
• Examine the potential for nuclear energy to become a larger part of the Western electricity generation portfolio

As part of the overall project, various future electricity generation and transmission scenarios will be developed to show the impacts each would have on the economies, natural resources and landscapes.  The information will assist state policy makers; regulators responsible for facility siting, water and wildlife; the federal government; generation and transmission developers; load-serving entities; and the public, including non-governmental organizations.

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