[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31909-31910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14874]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Intent To Relieve Path 15 Transmission Constraints
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Request for Statements of Interest.
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SUMMARY: The National Energy Policy Report announced on May 17, 2001,
recommended that the President direct the Secretary of Energy
(Secretary) to authorize the Western Area Power Administration
(Western) to explore relieving the ``Path 15'' bottleneck through
transmission expansion. The Path 15 bottleneck refers to transmission
system constraints which severely limit the flow of electric power over
the existing north-south transmission lines located in central
California. These existing lines are owned and operated by Pacific Gas
and Electric Company (PG&E).
On May 28, 2001, the Secretary directed the Administrator of
Western to complete its planning to relieve Path 15 constraints, and
determine whether outside parties are interested in helping finance and
co-own the necessary system additions, including transmission lines.
The level of interest will be a factor in the decision by the Secretary
whether or not to build the system additions necessary to relieve the
constraints. If the system additions are built under this process,
Western will be a project manager for the construction efforts.
In this notice, Western is requesting Statements of Interest from
parties interested in helping finance and co-own the system additions.
DATES: To be assured of consideration, all Statements of Interest
should be received at Western's Sierra Nevada Regional Office by July
13, 2001.
ADDRESSES: The Statements of Interest should be mailed to: Mr. Howard
Hirahara, Acting Regional Manager, Sierra Nevada Region, Western Area
Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710.
Statements of Interest may also be faxed to (916) 985-1934 or e-mailed
to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning the
Statements of Interest, contact: Mr. Howard Hirahara, Acting Regional
Manager, Sierra Nevada Region, Western Area Power Administration, 114
Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, telephone (916) 353-4416.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It was recognized in the 1980s that, under
certain power system conditions, the flow of electric power over Path
15 could be severely limited. Western, the Transmission Agency of
Northern California (TANC), and PG&E studied the possibility of
constructing system additions to relieve Path 15 constraints as part of
the planning effort for the California-Oregon Transmission Project
(COTP.) The COTP was authorized by the Energy and Water Development
Appropriation Act, 1985, Public Law 98-360, 98 Stat. 403, 416, (1984).
In 1988, Western released a final Federal environmental impact
statement (EIS), and TANC released a final environmental impact review
under California law, on the transmission facilities needed for the
COTP. The plan included system additions, known as the Los Banos-Gates
Transmission Project, to relieve the Path 15 bottleneck. At that time,
the Los Banos--Gates Transmission Project would have consisted of 84
miles of new 500-kilovolt (kV) AC transmission line, realignment of the
existing Los Banos-Midway No. 2 500-kV transmission line into Gates
Substation, modification of the Los Banos and Gates Substations to
accommodate new equipment at several existing substations, and
reconductoring of portions of the Gates-Arco-Midway 230-kV Transmission
Line. It was subsequently determined in the Final EIS that the timing
and need for the project were uncertain and if its construction was
deferred it would be necessary to make minor modifications to the
transmission system south of Tesla Substation to accommodate the
increased power transfer demands that would be placed on the system.
The COTP was built and placed in service in March 1993. For a variety
of reasons, the Los Banos-Gates Transmission Project was not built.
Given the current energy problems in California, including the
bankruptcy of the PG&E, the Secretary has now directed Western to
complete its planning for the transmission project and to determine
whether outside parties are interested in helping to finance and co-own
the system additions. Western has general authority under the
Department of Energy
[[Page 31910]]
Organization Act to construct, operate, and maintain transmission lines
and attendant facilities. Western has project-specific authority under
the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act, 1985, supra, to
construct or participate in the construction of system additions in the
Los Banos-Gates area to relieve the Path 15 bottleneck.
Western's initial step is to identify all entities interested in
participating in the financing and co-ownership of Path 15 system
additions. For this initial step, interested parties should assume that
the system additions would be very similar to those proposed in 1988
for the Los Banos--Gates Transmission Project. Western estimates that
the cost of the Project today would be approximately $200-300 million.
Those entities should submit Statements of Interest including the
following:
1. Name of requesting entity and experience in financing electric
utility transmission projects.
2. Name, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address of
management contact.
3. Name, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address of
technical contact.
4. Amount of financing they are willing to contribute to the
project.
5. Amount and type of ownership rights they seek.
6. Description of non-monetary contributions they are willing to
offer to the project.
7. Description of the proposed participation in sufficient detail
to enable Western to evaluate the proposal.
8. Amounts and types of transmission rights they wish to purchase.
Western then will analyze the Statements of Interest. The level of
interest will be a factor in the decision by the Secretary whether or
not to build the system additions necessary to relieve the Path 15
constraints.
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C.
3501-3520, Western has received approval from the Office of Management
and Budget for the collection of this information under control number
1910-1200.
Western will prepare the necessary environmental and feasibility
studies and review easement and land acquisition issues related to the
project. Western will review the 1988 COTP EIS and 1991 Supplement
Analysis to determine what further action must be taken to comply with
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other environmental laws
and regulations.
Dated: June 2, 2001.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-14874 Filed 6-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P