WREZ Update - February 2009
Contacts
General Questions
Madeleine West, Energy Program Associate
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303-623-9378 ext. 125
Media
Karen Deike, Director of Communications
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303-623-9378 ext. 104
Public Comments Sought on Draft Documents, Map February 2 - March 2, 2009
The Western Renewable Energy Zones Initiative urges all interested parties to comment on areas that have been identified through the WREZ process as having high quality and developable renewable resources. The aim of the WREZ initiative is to expedite the development and delivery of electricity generated by renewable energy.
Several draft documents and a map are available for review and comment. Background on the WREZ project is provided below and can be viewed online at: WREZ Initiative.
WREZ Background
The WREZ initiative was launched in May 2008 and includes 11 states, two Canadian provinces, and those areas of Mexico that are part of the Western Interconnection. Guiding the process is the Steering Committee comprising governors, public utility commissioners, Canadian premiers and U.S. federal officials. The committees and work groups that developed the package of materials open for public comment include representatives from all levels of government, tribes, the renewable energy industry, utilities and environmental groups.
The WREZ project will generate:
- Reliable information to support the cost-effective and environmentally sensitive development of renewable energy within each REZ and quantifying non REZ resources.
- Conceptual transmission plans for delivering the energy from specified zones to load centers across the Western Interconnection.
The WREZ process will not override individual state efforts to identify lands for renewable energy generation. Rather, it will provide information and tools that can be used to examine scenarios for developing renewable resources, the transmission needed to bring them to market and the associated costs.
Four Phases of the WREZ Project
Phase 1: Identify REZs
Identification of all commercial renewable resource potential in the Western Interconnection will occur in Phase One. Resources that are suitable for large scale development and geographically proximate will be aggregated into potential REZs.
Phase 2: Develop a Conceptual Transmission Plan to Move Power from REZs
The WREZ will work with the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and sub-regional transmission planning groups to develop a conceptual transmission plan that will demonstrate the delivery of energy from the identified REZs to locations where the power is needed. Modeling of transmission from the REZs and an estimation of the price of that delivered power will also be accomplished with a new, easy-to-use, computer screening tool available to the public.
Phase 3: Coordinate Procurement to Support Transmission Projects and a Regional Market for Renewable Energy
Western Governors will foster coordination of utility generation procurement schedules to help create the critical mass that would justify the construction of regional transmission to REZs.
Phase 4: Build Interstate Cooperation to Approve and Address Cost Issues Inhibiting Large-scale Transmission Projects
The Governors will engage key leaders to build cooperation and facilitate cross-state generation-transmission projects that help address siting and cost issues that have slowed the construction of large-scale transmission.
WREZ Work Groups
Environment and Lands Work Group is examining the development potential of REZs based on environmental, land use and wildlife criteria. They are coordinating their efforts with the Western Governors’ Wildlife Council.
Zone Identification and Technical Analysis Work Group is developing criteria to identify highly concentrated areas of energy potential for extra-high voltage transmission lines. These areas will be referred to as Renewable Energy Zones. Renewable resources that fall outside of a designated REZ will be mapped and quantified, but a full economic and environmental analysis will not be done.
Generation and Transmission Modeling Work Group is developing a flexible and user-friendly model to evaluate the delivered price of power from a REZ to load centers and is engaging planners to study transmission needed to move that power.
Documents Open for Public Comment
Work group documents open for public comment were reviewed and amended by the Technical Committee at its meeting on January 13 - 14 and then forwarded to the Steering Committee for final approval and posting. All meetings are open to the public.
- A map of Qualified Resource Areas illustrates those lands in the Western Interconnection with the greatest renewable energy density within a contiguous area;
- QRA identification process;
- Technology assumptions for supply curves for each QRA;
- Transmission assumptions developed by the Generation and Transmission Modeling work group, and
- Exclusions and initial avoidance areas recommended by the Environment and Lands work group.
Key Dates and Events
- Present - April 2009 - ZITA and E&L work groups continue to refine recommendations
- February 2 - March 2, 2009 - Public comment period
- April 23 - 24 2009 - Technical Committee meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah to recommend final REZs, and next steps for Phases 2 - 4 to the Steering Committee
- April TBD - Comment period on revised REZ maps that identifiy areas with wildlife sensitivities
- April - May 2009 - Steering Committee acts on Technical Committee recommendations
- June 14 - 16, 2009 - WREZ Phase 1report on the identification and mapping of commercial renewables, including REZs, presented to the governors and premiers at WGA’s Annual Meeting
- Fall 2009 - Phase 2 conceptual transmission planning report completed. Phase 3 discussion begins among utilities on coordinated procurement. Phase 4 collaborative efforts begin among state and federal agencies in the review of permits for interstate transmission.
- For more information, go to: WREZ Initiative.