Recent Developments:
- Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative & CPUC Renewables Transmission Proceeding
A. RETI
California’s Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) remains on schedule, and many CEERT family members are actively engaged. The RETI web site is hosted by the Energy Commission (http://
www.energy.ca.gov/reti/index.html) and contains a plethora of documents to help you follow the process.
At its May meeting, the Stakeholder Steering Committee approved the Phase 1A report by Black & Veatch describing in detail the assumptions and methodology that will be used in their cost/benefit analysis. A way of accounting for the inevitable uncertainty that exists in data and assumptions was developed by representatives of the generator group and is now included in the report.
Also at the May meeting, the SSC sent back to the Environmental Working Group its initial recommendation providing guidance to B&V about potential development—and lack thereof—in areas with existing prohibitions and significant restrictions. The SSC postponed consideration of the recommendation pending the availability of maps describing these areas, and requested further clarifications. Maps compiled by the CEC’s cartography department are now posted on the web site, and a revised recommendation will be considered at the June meeting. Generators needing GIS details to compare the maps to project areas of interest can request this information from the CEC. Contact Rich Ferguson for further information.
Black & Veatch and the Environmental Working Group are now engaged in identifying the renewable resource areas preferred for early transmission access. The current schedule calls for the preferred resource areas to be identified by the end of the summer on the completion of Phase 1. Conceptual transmission planning to provide access to these areas will get underway immediately thereafter, and a group has been formed to design the Phase 2 process.
The California Independent System Operator is due to issue a report in July outlining system upgrades likely to be needed to accommodate increased flows from renewable generators once transmission access is provided. The CAISO study is an integral part of RETI Phase 2 work.
CEERT’s Research Director, Rich Ferguson, and board member Dave Olsen are the coordinators of the RETI process under contract with the CEC. They appreciate all the participation and support for RETI from CEERT affiliates.
B. CPUC Renewables Transmission ProceedingI.08-03-010/R.08-03-001
In March, the CPUC instituted investigation (OII (I.) 08-03-010) and rulemaking (OIR (R.) 08-03-001) to continue its efforts to address issues affecting adequate transmission access to renewable resources. The OII/OIR specifically referenced and provided an agency-forum home for the Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative, and included other issues within its preliminary scope for which CEERT (Rich Ferguson and Dave Olsen) had specifically advocated.
On April 16, 2008, CEERT filed Comments on the Preliminary Scoping Memo included in I.08-03-010/
R.08-03-001. In these comments, CEERT supported the CPUC’s continued resolution of transmission issues key to meeting renewable-resource procurement targets, and recommended additional issues to be included in this proceeding to ensure that result. CEERT will remain active in this proceeding. |
