earth

Transmission

 

WIRING RENEWABLES TO THE MARKET

CEERT Experts Assist Transmission Planning

For the last two years CEERT experts have been facilitating the work of groups studying electric transmission lines that will provide access to two major renewable energy resource areas in California. Dave Olsen, an independent consultant and long-time member of the CEERT Board of Directors, facilitated the work of the Imperial Valley Study Group to analyze a major new power line that would link geothermal resources in Imperial Valley with consumers in San Diego and Los Angeles. The Report of the Imperial Valley Study Group was filed with the California Public Utilities Commission last October and describes the exhaustive studies that were performed.

Dr. Rich Ferguson, CEERT's Research Director, and Mr. Olsen also facilitated the Tehachapi Collaborative Study Group which analyzed transmission lines needed to connect the large wind power resource in the Tehachapi region to the state's electric grid. The work was performed at the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission and involved PG&E, Southern California Edison, wind power developers and many other stakeholders. The Second Report of the Tehachapi Collaborative Study Group was filed with the CPUC last April.

Both of these proposed transmission projects are considered essential if the state is to meet its renewable energy goals. The proposals are now under review by the California Independent System Operator;  Dr. Ferguson and Mr. Olsen continue to assist with the studies. A decision on these projects is expected from the CAISO later this fall. Since October 2005, CEERT's work on transmission planning has been supported by a contract with the California Energy Commission.

 

Reports