The WGA and the U.S. Department of Energy released a joint WREZ Phase 1 report on June 15, 2009 that takes the first steps toward identifying those areas in the Western Interconnection that have both the potential for large scale development of renewable resources and low environmental impacts.
In Phase 1 the WREZ initiative brought together diverse interests to develop information and analytical tools that will assist public utility commissions, energy and transmission developers, utilities and others working to bring more renewable energy online.
GIS layers used in Phase 1 can be viewed and downloaded by logging on to the the NREL WREZ GIS portal:
Username: wrez
Password: guest
The portal is data intensive, so be patient when drilling down on these maps.
About the WREZ Initiative
The Western Governors' Association and U.S. Department of Energy launched the Western Renewable Energy Zones initiative in May 2008. The WREZ seeks to identify those areas in the West with vast renewable resources to expedite the development and delivery of renewable energy to where it is needed. Renewable energy resources are being analyzed within 11 states, two Canadian provinces, and areas in Mexico that are part of the Western Interconnection.
The WREZ project will generate:
- reliable information for use by decision-makers that supports the cost-effective and environmentally sensitive development of renewable energy in specified zones, and
- conceptual transmission plans for delivering that energy to load centers within the Western Interconnection. A number of factors will be considered, including the potential for development, timeframes, common transmission needs and costs. The project also will evaluate all feasible renewable resource technologies that are likely to contribute to the realization of the goal in WGA’s policy resolution that calls for the development of 30,000 megawatts of clean and diversified energy by 2015.
Who oversees the WREZ project?
The WREZ project is guided by a Steering Committee comprising governors of the 11 Western states within the Western Interconnection, public utility commissioners from each of those states and the Premiers of British Columbia and Alberta. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Western Governors’ Association, Governors Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Butch Otter of Idaho, head the Steering Committee. Also included as non-voting members are federal officials from the departments of Energy, Interior and Agriculture, as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
A Technical Committee, appointed by the Steering Committee, is composed of representatives from the states and provinces from each WREZ work group and from the range of stakeholders interested in energy issues in the West. The Western Governors’ Association and the U.S. Department of Energy provide staff support to the WREZ project.
A Transparent and Stakeholder Driven Process
The WGA and DOE designed the WREZ process to be a transparent and stakeholder driven process. Each of the work groups and the Technical Committee include stakeholders representing non governmental organizations, industry, advocacy groups and all levels of government. A consensus-based process is being used to develop work products.
The WREZ’s three work groups solicited public comments in February on several draft documents and maps. Those comments and a log indicating their disposition have been posted. A second comment period will be held this Spring to consider additional data from the Environment and Lands Work Group. Click on the appropriate work group below to view documents listed and additional background information.
|
Join E-mail List
