Download or view full paper HERE. (PDF 470kb)

Download PDF Here

The comments are divided into three sections. The first puts opportunities to
improve WAPAWestern Area Power Administration www.wapa.gov practices into the context of grid evolution, both nationally and in the western U.S., and finds them not fully responsive to the challenges of the Defining the Future Initiative.

The second identifies immediate steps WAPA could take to improve operations that are not addressed by JOT Draft Recommendations.

The third section includes specific comments on JOT Draft Recommendations.

David Olsen
Ronald Lehr
Western Grid Group
October 1, 2012

Ronald Lehr
Western Grid Group

October 1, 2012

• Statement of David Olsen, Western Grid Group: Western Area Power Administration Workshop
July 26, 2012, Folsom, California

DOE/Western Initiatives Can Reduce Costs, Improve Reliability,
Short-Term and Begin Long-Term Modernization
WGGWestern Grid Group www.westerngrid.net-WAPA Folsom CA 7-26-12

This is not an open meeting, please contact Amanda Ormond or Alicia Healey for information on attending.

Courtyard Marriott Tempe Downtown
601 South Ash Avenue
Tempe, Arizona 85281 USA

AGENDA:

Wednesday, September 12

8:00 – BREAKFAST

8:30 – 10:30

Order 1000 – Post-Filing Deadline Actions
The FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission - The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and interstate natural gas pipelines as well as licensing hydropower projects. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 gave FERC additional responsibilities as outlined in FERC's Top Initiatives and updated Strategic Plan. Project prepared a white paper on minimum compliance for utility Order 1000 filings that is being used as the benchmark to assess the filings.  At the meeting we will review the documents from each of the sub-regions (Columbia Grid, NTTGNorthern Tier Transmission Group www.nttg.biz, CalISO and WestConnect) and discuss if the sub-regions are addressing required areas and those of greatest concern to WCEA organizations.   With the guidance of FERC Project staff we will discuss and develop the process and timeline that we will use to submit comments after the October utility filings. We will also cover desired outcomes for regional coordination.

Julia Prochnik, NRDCNatural Resources Defense Council -an environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.3 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals. NRDC has office in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing - http://www.nrdc.org/ – WestConnect & CAISOCalifornia Independent System Operator www.caiso.com
Fred Heutte, Northwest Energy Coalition – Columbia Grid & NTTG
Terry Black or John Moore, FERC Project – White paper on minimum compliance
Amanda Ormond, WGGWestern Grid Group www.westerngrid.net  – Discussion Lead

10:30 – 10:45 – Break

10:45 – 11:30

Changing WECCWestern Electricity Coordinating Council
The role of Western Electricity Coordinating Committee will change as it responds to findings that it is not meeting its reliability obligations and grapples with how to handle west-wide transmission planning in the future.   We will review board proposals to split into two organizations and other proposed change.  Advocates will debate what structure would serve us best, the methods to advocate for the structure we support and the timeline to take action.

Fred Huette, Northwest Energy Coalition
Ron Lehr, WGG
Bob Anderson, Western Grid Group – Discussion lead

11:30 – 12:15

Opportunities at WGAWestern Governors’ Association www.westgov.org
WGA Chair, Governor Herbert, has expressed his interest to develop a west-wide energy plan.  This creates an opportunity to put forward our CEV.  We will delve into the potential and determine how state advocates can contribute to build a robust clean energy plan.
Sarah Wright, Utah Clean Energy – Discussion Lead

12:15 -1:45 – Lunch on your own

1:45 – 3:45

Implications of Fracking
Fracked gas is expected to make up 40% of the country’s natural gas supply in the near future. Yet, the implications for and impacts of fracking are not well known.  Advocates need to be prepared with credible arguments and information to reduce the rush to gas.

Katie Elder, Apen Environmental – Non-hyped assessment of fracking
Roger Hamilton, WGG – Discussion Lead

Pre-meeting suggested reading:
• Natural_Gas_LCA_Update_082511 (PDF)
• PNAS-2012-Alvarez-1202407109 (PDF)
• UCAR.edu :Coal to Gas Will Do Little for Global Climate (website)

3:45 – 4:00 – Break

4:00 – 5:00

Institutionalizing Environmental Considerations in Planning Processes 

The recent settlement on Westwide Energy Corridors and the Environmental Data Task Force work products provide opportunities to shape transmission and resource planning processes by starting to include environmental and land considerations.   We will strategize on how and where to change existing processes and review Xcel’s  use of EDTF data.
Pam Eaton, The Wilderness Society – Discussion Lead

Thursday, September 13

8:00 – 9:30

Energy Imbalance Market – 1.5 hours
The Western Interstate Energy Board, through its EIMEnergy Imbalance Market An Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) is a proposed market that would enable greater and more efficient sharing of electrical balancing resources between BAs. Key features of an EIM include efficient use of balancing resources between participating balancing authorities, optimized use of transmission assets between balancing areas, and the ability to efficiently accommodate Variable Energy Resources (VERs) such as solar and wind resources. commissioner group, continues to examine and support the development of EIM.  While progress is being made a go/no-go decision point has not been reached.  Advocates will review the agenda for EIM meeting (scheduled for Sept 13 & 14 in Tempe), decide on key points to make at the meeting and divvy up assignments.  We will also share information on the most supportive utilities and develop strategies to push them to act.  (Reference – EIM powerpoint, August, Ravenscroft)
Roger Hamilton, WGG – Discussion Lead

Break 9:30 – 9:45

9:45 – 11:30

DOEU.S. Department of Energy www.energy.gov/PMAThe Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) are four federal agencies within the Department of Energy responsible for marketing hydropower—primarily excess power produced by federal dams and projects operated by the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation. The four federal PMAs, which market and distribute power to 60 million people in 34 states, are required to give preference to public utility districts and cooperatives, and sell their power at cost-based rates. Modernization

Brief update on Western’s expected actions as a result of the customer workshops.
 Updates and Next Steps

RTEPRegional Transmission Expansion Planning
WCEA

11:30 – Adjourn

1:00 – PUCState public utility commission EIM meeting convenes at Mission Palms Hotel

The Foundation describes the video this way:

Wind power and solar power are the fastest growing sources of electricity in America and worldwide. We need reliable power at all times, so what happens when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine?

This video introduces you to the people who run the electricity grid, the network of power plants and power lines that keep the lights on. It takes you inside the control center for the largest power system in the world and lets utility experts explain how the variability of wind and solar generation can be managed using existing tools and techniques.

View the video HERE.

Download the request HERE.

The following groups signed onto the request:
Alliance for Clean Energy New York
Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin
Climate and Energy Project
Conservation Law Foundation
Energy Conservation Council of Pennsylvania
Environment Northeast
Environmental Defense Fund
Great Plains Institute
Natural Resources Defense Council
Pace Energy and Climate Center
Sustainable FERC Project
Sierra Club
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Wilderness Society
Western Grid Group
Western Resource Advocates
Wind on the WiresWorking Group for Investment in Reliable & Economic Electric Systems www.wiresgroup.com

DOWNLOAD and VIEW DOCUMENTS:
Abstract
Full Article as published in Transactions on Sustainable Energy.

The article, and the other, more electrical engineering focused papers, are available on IEEE’s Xplore site, ieeexplore.ieee.org, under “Transactions” on Sustainable Energy, Early Access.

A new report published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NRELNational Renewable Energy Laboratory www.nrel.gov), the Renewable Electricity Futures Study (RERenewable energy Futures), is an initial investigation of the extent to which renewable energy supply can meet the electricity demands of the continental United States over the next several decades. This study explores the implications and challenges of very high renewable electricity generation levels—from 30% up to 90%, focusing on 80%, of all U.S. electricity generation from renewable technologies—in 2050. At such high levels of renewable electricity generation, the unique characteristics of some renewable resources, specifically geographical distribution and variability and uncertainty in output, pose challenges to the operability of the nation’s electric system.

Key Findings
Renewable electricity generation from technologies that are commercially available today, in combination with a more flexible electric system, is more than adequate to supply 80% of total U.S. electricity generation in 2050 while meeting electricity demand on an hourly basis in every region of the country.
Increased electric system flexibility, needed to enable electricity supply-demand balance with high levels of renewable generation, can come from a portfolio of supply- and demand-side options, including flexible conventional generation, grid storage, new transmission, more responsive loads, and changes in power system operations.

The abundance and diversity of U.S. renewable energy resources can support multiple combinations of renewable technologies that result in deep reductions in electric sector greenhouse gas emissions and water use.

The direct incremental cost associated with high renewable generation is comparable to published cost estimates of other clean energy scenarios. Improvement in the cost and performance of renewable technologies is the most impactful lever for reducing this incremental cost.

RE Futures provides initial answers to important questions about the integration of high penetrations of renewable electricity technologies from a national perspective, focusing on key technical implications. The study explores electricity grid integration using models with unprecedented geographic and time resolution for the continental United States to assess whether the U.S. power system can supply electricity to meet customer demand on an hourly basis with high levels of renewable electricity, including variable wind and solar generation.

RE Futures, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, is a collaboration with more than 110 contributors from 35 organizations including national laboratories, industry, universities, and non-governmental organizations.

As the most comprehensive analysis of high-penetration renewable electricity of the continental United States to date, the study can inform broader discussion of the evolution of the electric system and electricity markets towards clean systems.

Link to the RE Futures‘ Page (includes the report and modeling and cost data used)

Five-minute MSTI Video