3. Tri-State G&T
Tri-State is a member owned, not-for-profit, generation
and transmission cooperative
44 member owners across Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and
New Mexico
Our Members serve a population of 1.4 million
Tri-State owns 5,300 miles of HV transmission
Another 1,300 miles planned over the next 10 years
Tri-State has revamped its interconnection process to
expedite the connection of new generation to its system
7. North
west to
Western Interconnect
Canad
Monroe-Echo Lake
a Alberta to BC
Transmission Paths
Cross Cascades West of
Paul-Raver
North Hatwai
North of
Paul-Allston Nor Hanford
th of J Montana to NW
o hn D
Allston-Keeler ay
West of Broadview
West of
MCNary West of Colstrip
Cross
NW to Idaho
Cascades
South
Montana
Southease
Idaho-Montana
Borah West TOT 4B
COI PDCI
TOT 4A
Reno-Alturas
Idaho-Sierra
Bridger West
Path C
Intermountain- TOT 1A
Mona Bonanza TOT 3
West
IPP DC TOT 5
Midway-Los Banos
TOT 2C TOT 2A
WOR Southwest
of Four
Northern-Southern Corners
California
EOR
Cholla-Pinnacle Peak
NOTE:
SDG&E-Comision
Federal de Electicidad For clarity, not all WECC
Rated Paths are shown.
7
10. Another Way To Look At It
Winter
Peak Load
Spring/Fall
Load Valleys
Summer
Peak Load
Data: 08/2003 to 08/2004
11. Utilization Dictates Transmission Rates
(HPX)
RENEWABLES-ONLY MIX OF RESOURCES
$25
NM-AZ @ $5.00/kW-mo
TRANSMISSION RATE $/MWh
CO-NM @ $4.00/kW-mo
$20 WY-CO @ $3.25/kW-mo
EFFECTIVE $/MWH RAT
$15
$10
$5
$-
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
TRANSMISSION LINE UTILIATION
How to Improve Transmission Utilization
• Geographic Diversity (wind in multiple locations)
• Blending wind with solar and other renewables
• Use of gas-fired generation for “firming” and meeting load
12. Transmission
CALGARY
GORDON M SHRUM
RUPERT
Segments ENDAKO
TUMBLER
WILLISTON
BIG KNIFE CREEK
Largely comprised of PORT
MCNEIL
KELLY LAKE
RED DEER
existing transmission
NEW 53 GOLDSTREAM WEST
JANET
BROOKS EMPRESS
NICOLA
INDEGLOW
corridors SELKIRK NEW56
MONROE
NEW42
BELL
OLYMPIA
~100 segments identified TROUTDALE SACAJAWEA
NEW92
CONRAD
HAVRE
GARRISON NEW93
JOHN DAY
Suitability for siting or path BETHEL
OXBOW NEW39
BROADVIEW
SUMMER LAKE
rating not assessed BOISE
NEW 19
CAPT JACK NEW 15 BRADY
Linkage between WREZs
CASPER YELLOWCAKE
MIDPOINT NORTH
NEW 35
MIRACLE
LARAMIE RIVER
(~60) and Loads Zones TRACY MILE
VACA DIXON ARCHER
ELY
MONA
NEW 12
(20) AULT STERLI
BELLOTA
NEW 10 PAWNEE
MONTROSE
WEST CEDAR PONCHA
NEW
NEW 9
MIDWAY LAMAR
ANTELOPE MEAD
CUDEI
NEW 11 SAN LUIS
PISGAH NEW
FOUR CORNERS
CHOLLA
DEVERS MOUNTAIN RIO PUERCO
WREZ Transmission Segments SERRANO
BLYTHE
WESTWING
NEW 28
sub-group chaired by Andy Leoni of LOS COCHES
ALAMORIO
HARQUAHALA TOME
Tri-State Generation & Transmission
SANTA ROSA
GREENLEE ARROYO NEW 26
CPO
TORTOLITA HILDAGO
LUNA
CALIENTE
SN FELIPE
13. State Government Interest
Western Governors Association
Colorado Energy Development Authority
New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission
Authority
Wyoming Infrastructure Authority
Nebraska—Wind for Export Legislation
Upper Midwest Transmission Development
Initiative (IA, MN,ND, SD, WI)
Texas-CREZ
14. Local Market versus Export Market
Estimated wind energy potential exceeds local needs.
NREL estimate of Ports-to-Plains states: 5 to 9 million MW
US installed generating capacity 2008 (all fuels) 1.1 million MW
Everyone wants to export to either California or southeast
States are trying to be first to market:
Competing with each other for economic development
opportunities
Want to change transmission planning philosophy to focus on
wind export in addition to reliability
Export scenarios will put tremendous stress on existing
transmission built primarily to serve local load.
Electric system stability will limit installed wind generation
installation to a fraction of the theoretical capability.
21. The “Battleground” Issues
Who pays (cost allocation)?
Customers, generators, utilities, or taxpayers
Should local customers/utilities pay for export lines?
States Rights vs. National/Regional/Customer Interests
Permitting, siting, and economic development
Interstate commerce
Who Plans, Owns & Manages the Grid?
Planning Issues
Oversizing Transmission for Optimized Land Use & Economies of
Scale
National Grid Overlay
Green Transmission Lines
