ML103620035

Glwc Regional Transmission Wind Workgroup Workplan, January 2010-June 2011

ML103620035
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	12/28/2010
From:	Great Lakes Wind Collaborative
To:	NRC/SECY
SECY RAS
Shared Package
ML103620034	List: ML103620035 ML103620036 ML103620037 ML103620038
References
License Renewal 2, RAS 19317, 50-346-LR
Download: ML103620035 (4)

Text

GLWC Regional Transmission Wind Workgroup Workplan January 2010 - June 2011

Purpose:

The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative (GLWC) Regional Transmission Workgroup identifies main challenges at the state, provincial and regional level to address reliability, access, and efficient delivery of wind energy in an environmentally and socially responsible manner Objectives:

The transmission workgroup will provide a forum for dialogue and an opportunity for analysis and exchange of information among key stakeholders and interested parties regarding transmission development conducive to wind integration in the Great Lakes region.

Specifically, this includes the technical, environmental, regulatory, cost allocation, outreach, and siting issues that are currently plaguing the transmission industry as it relates to wind.

Conduct background research and evaluation of federal and regional transmission implementation policies in order to follow processes and identify ways to become involved.

Consolidate research that has been done on transmission and wind integration in the Great Lakes region and identify voids that need to be addressed on particular topics.

GLWC Workplan Outcome/Milestone:

Near-term (January 2010 - June 2011)

I.

Finish the inventory of organizational/jurisdictional work and siting processes on transmission at the state/provincial, regional and national level that was began in 2009, post results, and monitor the activities of these groups and organizations.

a. Finalize spreadsheet of regional actors, including siting authorities/processes, programs, reports, and objectives.

b. Synthesize this inventory to find a place where the transmission workgroup can fill a void or enhance an objective.

c.

Identify processes (e.g. queue reform) that should be closely followed and acted upon by the workgroup if deemed necessary.

II.

Identify issues and summarize models related to cost allocation for new transmission applicable to the Great Lakes region and develop products (a) below.

a. Develop a briefing paper on the different approaches to cost allocation and their impacts as they relate to the region. This will also serve as an addendum to the Best Practices Workgroups transmission component.

III.

Consolidate information in transmission reports that forecast wind energy integration and conceptual transmission upgrades needed and develop a briefing paper (including a-c below).

a. Determine through available maps and other resources where all regional existing transmission is located.

b. Identify interstate roadblocks to new transmission. (Use GLWC-RTW survey briefing report as a source of information.)

c.

Inventory and reconcile the analytical information available regarding justification for new transmission based on reliability versus economics in the Great Lakes region.

This will include information relating to offshore transmission and connecting it to the grid.

IV.

University of Michigan Masters students will use case studies (i.e. Galloo Island) to identify transmission siting policy options/guidelines and develop a report on the economic, social, and environmental impacts of potential transmission scenarios for offshore wind development versus on-land wind development in the Great Lakes region.

They will also develop a presentation and outreach/informational tools on the results of their work.

GLWC Regional Transmission Wind Workgroup Workplan January 2010 - June 2011 V.

Collaborate with the Wind Atlas Workgroup to help it access and link regional transmission data from the Great Lakes Wind Atlas

a. Review what data would be most relevant to transmission planning in the Great Lakes region and identify priority data layers to include in the Atlas.

b. Help procure and access the transmission data and information the workgroup identifies as having priority to incorporate it into the Atlas.

Ongoing I.

Keep updated on the latest transmission provisions in Congressional bills.

a. Identify bills and monitor progress.

b. Consider opportunities to support them.

II.

Maintain a transmission bibliography as part of the GLWC online bibliography.

III.

Conduct periodic webinars and meetings as determined by workgroup consensus.

a. Possibly conduct a webinar in 2010 on transmission-wildlife issues in conjunction with the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative (NWCC).

b. Others TBD Long-term (June 2011 and Beyond)

I.

Identify issues related to how wildlife will be affected by new transmission upgrades for wind.

a. Find common denominators among each state/provincial wildlife assessment for new transmission capacity and provide recommendations to address wildlife-transmission issues as needed.

b. Work with NWCCs Transmission Workgroup on this issue (possibly conduct a webinar as identified in #III-a under Ongoing above).

c.

Incorporate other groups work on this issue including Great Lakes Uniteds fact sheet on wind-wildlife issues and others identified by workgroup members.

Approach: The bulk of the workgroup business will be conducted by conference calls. The workgroup will identify how its members and Great Lakes Commission staff can achieve the outcomes and milestones identified in the table below.

GLWC Regional Transmission Wind Workgroup Workplan January 2010 - June 2011 Task Responsible Parties Timeline Qtr 1

Qtr 2

Qtr 3

Qtr 4

Qtr 5

Qtr 6

I. Finish the inventory of organizational/jurisdictional work and siting processes on transmission at the state/provincial, regional and national level that was began in 2009, post results, and monitor the activities of these groups and organizations.

a.

Finalize spreadsheet of regional actors, including siting authorities/processes, programs, reports, and objectives.

b.

Synthesize this inventory to find a place where the transmission workgroup can fill a void or enhance an objective.

c.

Identify processes (e.g. queue reform) that should be closely followed and acted upon by the workgroup if deemed necessary.

GLC staff GLC staff Workgroup members Workgroup members X

X X

X X

X X

X II. Synthesize issues related to cost allocation for new transmission in the Great Lakes region and develop products (a) and (b) below.

a.

Identify current practices/options for cost allocation in the region as a baseline and develop a briefing paper to serve as an addendum to the Best Practices Workgroup Siting Report.

b.

Develop policy recommendations as warranted on cost allocation issues.

GLC staff and workgroup members X

X X

X X

X III. Consolidate information in transmission reports that forecast wind energy integration and conceptual transmission upgrades needed and develop a briefing paper.

GLC staff with assistance from workgroup members X

X X

X X

X IV. Collaborate with the Wind Atlas Workgroup to help it access and link regional transmission data from the Great Lakes Wind Atlas.

GLC staff with assistance from workgroup members as needed X

X X

X X

X Ongoing Keep updated on the latest transmission provisions in Congressional bills.

Workgroup members with assistance from staff as needed X

X X

X X

X

GLWC Regional Transmission Wind Workgroup Workplan January 2010 - June 2011 Maintain a transmission bibliography as part of the GLWC online bibliography.

GLC staff X

X X

X X

X Conduct periodic webinars and meetings as determined by workgroup consensus.

GLC staff with assistance from workgroup members familiar with projects to provide information and updates.

X X

X X

X X

Long-term (beyond June 2011)

Identify issues related to how wildlife will be affected by new transmission upgrades for wind.

GLC staff and workgroup members.

X X

X X

X X