[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 98 (Thursday, May 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29133-29135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-11412]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Dakotas Wind Transmission Study

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of the draft Study Scope.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given to interested parties of the draft Study Scope 
language for performing studies associated with the Dakotas Wind 
Transmission Study (DWTS). The DWTS involves transmission studies on 
the placement of 500 megawatts (MW) of wind power in the Dakotas. 
Public comments on the draft Study Scope will be considered prior to 
finalizing the Study Scope language and performing the transmission 
studies.

DATES: The consultation and comment period begins today and will end 
June 21, 2004. Western will present a detailed informational 
explanation of the draft Study Scope associated with the DWTS at public 
information forums.
    The public information forum dates are:
    1. June 15, 2004, 7-9 p.m. CDT, Pierre, SD.
    2. June 16, 2004, 7-9 p.m. CDT, Bismarck, ND.
    Western will have a comment forum immediately after each 
information forum and accept written comments anytime during the 
consultation and comment period.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Robert J. Harris, Regional Manager, 
Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 2900 4th 
Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, e-mail 
[email protected].
    The public information forum locations are:
    1. Pierre--Best Western Ramkota Hotel, 920 West Sioux, Pierre, SD.
    2. Bismarck--Best Western Ramkota Hotel Bismarck, 800 South Third 
Street, Bismarck, ND.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Harris, Regional Manager, 
Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, Box 
35800, Billings, MT 59107-5800, telephone (406) 247-7405; or Mr. C. Sam 
Miller, Project Manager, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, P. O. Box 35800, Billings, MT 59107-5800, telephone 
(406) 247-7466, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2003, Congress passed legislation that 
included funding for the Western Area Power Administration (Western) to 
perform ``a transmission study on the placement of 500 megawatt[s] [of] 
wind energy in North Dakota and South Dakota.'' (Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Act, 2004)
    The Dakotas lead the nation in wind resources and have the 
potential to generate more than 100 times their current use of 
electricity. Wind power in the Dakotas currently totals 110 MW, 
producing about 2\1/2\ percent of the electric energy consumed in the 
two states.
    The Dakotas are already an exporting region with total generation 
of electricity more than twice consumption. Exports on the region's 
transmission system are limited by both stability (transient and 
voltage) and thermal loading.
    A number of wind energy transmission studies in the Dakotas have 
been completed, for both interconnection and delivery. Most notable is 
Western's ``Montana/Dakotas Transmission Study Scope'' completed in 
2002, http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/study. This study made significant 
progress in highlighting key wind-related transmission issues. 
Additional investigations are building on the results of this work. 
Several new studies are currently underway.
    In late February 2004, Western requested public comments to help 
develop the scope of the DWTS. Announcements were made through news 
coverage and mailings to interested groups. Comments were requested on 
study objectives, outcomes, and methods. In response, Western received 
70 comments from stakeholders, landowners, individual citizens, elected 
officials, and utilities. All were carefully considered. Western also 
reviewed recent technical work related to scope development for the 
DWTS.

Objectives

    The objectives of the DWTS include: (1) Perform transmission 
studies on the placement of 500 MW of wind power in North Dakota and 
South Dakota; (2) recognize and build upon prior related technical 
study work; (3) coordinate with current related technical study work; 
(4) solicit and incorporate public comments; and (5) produce 
meaningful, broadly supported results through a technically rigorous, 
inclusive study process. Western seeks public comments on the following 
proposed scope of work.

DWTS Work Scope

Task 1: Analyze Non-Firm Transmission Potential Relative to New Wind 
Generation

    The existing total transfer capability across the major paths in 
the Dakotas is already reserved under long-term contracts. However, the 
scheduled amount of capacity is often less than the total amount, 
leaving unused capacity in many hours of the year. Wind power, as a 
variable, nondispatchable energy source may be able to fit in the 
transmission grid in these hours as an energy provider. The possibility 
of delivering wind energy through long-term, non-firm access, and 
curtailing wind power deliveries during congested periods, will be 
studied in this task.
    The three key corridors to be studied are: (1) The North Dakota 
Export Boundary (a monitored regional flow gate comprised of 18 
individual transmission lines in North Dakota, South Dakota, and 
Minnesota), (2) a 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line, Watertown-
Granite Falls, and (3) a group comprised of eight transmission lines 
running east and southeast from Fort Thompson and west and northwest 
from Fort Randall (two 230-kV transmission lines, Fort Thompson-Huron; 
two 230-kV transmission lines, Fort Thompson-Sioux Falls; one 345-kV 
transmission line, Fort Thompson-Grand Island; two 230-kV transmission 
lines, Fort Thompson-Fort Randall; and one 115-kV transmission line, 
Bonesteel-Fort Randall). The evaluation

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will include hourly, daily, and seasonal analysis for a minimum of 1 
year for two cases: historical and projected.
    Western will evaluate and compare administratively committed and 
actual usage across each corridor using actual historical data (e.g., 
this type of comparison can be found in the Western Interconnection 
Transmission Path Flow Study, February 2003, http://www.ssg-wi.com/documents/320-2002_Reportfinal_pdf.pdf); and projected system data 
based on a full year system model (e.g., PROMOD IV) of the Integrated 
System and surrounding control areas.
    Western will evaluate and develop power production profiles of the 
Dakotas wind generation using actual historical data and statistically 
representative wind profiles (several years of historical data 
normalized to several decades of climate data). Western will coordinate 
with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to identify the 
representative wind power production time series and develop the wind 
models.
    Western will evaluate and compare the time synchronized 
transmission usage profiles and wind generation profiles over each 
timeframe (hourly, daily, and seasonal analysis for a minimum of 1 
year) for both the historical and the projected case.
    Western will develop annual flow duration curves for each corridor 
studied, assess the opportunity to deliver non-firm wind energy, and 
quantify the annual hours and time period of curtailment of the wind 
energy.
    Western will run additional modeling cases to bracket key 
sensitivities including high- and low-hydropower scenarios, demand 
growth scenarios, and natural gas price scenarios.

Task 2: Assess Potential of Transmission Technologies Relative to New 
Wind Generation

    Normal power flow on the transmission system often results in less 
than full use of the physical transmission capacity. One or more 
transmission lines may be loaded up to their thermal limits while the 
remaining lines are loaded to levels far below their thermal capacity. 
In the Dakotas, stability issues can limit transfer capacity before 
thermal limits are reached. Technology-based solutions that can 
increase the use of existing network transmission lines without 
jeopardizing reliability are now in a mature development phase and have 
been applied where economically justified on various utility networks. 
The Flexible AC Transmission System is a set of controller devices 
designed to provide dynamic control of power transmission parameters 
such as transmission line impedance, voltage magnitude, and phase 
angle. Many of these technologies were identified as possible solutions 
to transmission constraints in the Montana/Dakotas Transmission Study 
Scope. This analysis will be developed further in this task.
    This task will evaluate the opportunities and costs of increasing 
the use of existing transmission lines and corridors in the Dakotas 
while maintaining safe operation of the network. Specific opportunities 
will be identified and quantified.
    Technologies to be studied include: (1) Static var compensation to 
improve transmission system performance by providing the reactive power 
required to control dynamic voltage swings, (2) series compensation to 
improve stability by generating self-regulated reactive power, (3) 
phase-shifting transformers to improve stability and thermal loading by 
assisting with the control of power flow, (4) dynamic line ratings to 
increase transfer capacity by calculating the real time dynamic thermal 
rating of transmission lines based on real-time monitoring of lines and 
weather conditions, and (5) reconductoring to increase transfer 
capacity by replacing transmission line conductors with newer composite 
materials that can carry more current at the same or higher voltage. 
This evaluation will include an assessment of impacts on existing tower 
structures and right-of-ways.

Task 3: Study Interconnection of New Wind Generation

    Seven wind generation zones will be evaluated for interconnection. 
They were developed from public comments, wind resource maps, the 
Western interconnection queue, tribal projects, and developer projects. 
The zones are generally located near:

Garrison, North Dakota
Wishek/Ellendale/Edgeley, North Dakota
Pickert, North Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Mission, South Dakota
Fort Thompson, South Dakota
Summit/Watertown/Toronto/White/Brookings/Flandreau, South Dakota

    Aggregate interconnection studies to determine the local impacts of 
new wind generation will be prepared for each site at four wind 
generation levels of 50, 150, 250, and 500 MW. Impacts to be studied 
include steady state power flow analysis, constrained interface 
analysis, short circuit analysis, and dynamic stability analysis.

Task 4: Study the Delivery to Market of New Wind Generation

    Aggregate delivery studies will be performed on the four most 
favorable interconnection zones in Task 3. Several delivery scenarios 
will be developed for the new wind power based upon markets both inside 
and outside of the Dakotas.
    The incremental transmission delivery capability of each zone will 
be identified along with the necessary transmission improvements for 
each level of generation. Both steady state and stability analysis will 
be completed and losses will be evaluated. Transmission improvement 
options will be ranked by technical feasibility, right-of-way impact, 
and cost.

Study Guidelines

    All models and system data will be coordinated with and consistent 
with existing Mid-Continent Area Power Pool and Midwest Independent 
System Operator models and databases. Current wind turbine models will 
be used.

Next Phase of Study

    If any of the appropriated funding remains after the DTWS is 
completed, the following concepts will be explored by Western: (1) 
developing a cost share loan and/or grant program for partially funding 
transmission studies for wind power projects connecting in the Dakotas 
and (2) updating the models developed for Tasks 3 and 4 at regular 
intervals to incorporate ongoing changes to the transmission system in 
the Dakotas.

Availability of Information

    All studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other documents 
that Western initiates or uses are available for inspection and copying 
at the Upper Great Plains Regional Office, located at 2900 4th Avenue 
North, Billings, Montana. Many of these documents and supporting 
information are also available on its Web site under the ``Dakotas Wind 
Transmission Study'' section located at: http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/study/DakotasWind.

Regulatory Procedure Requirements

Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., 
requires Federal agencies to perform a regulatory flexibility analysis 
if a final rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities and there is a legal requirement 
to issue a general notice of proposed

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rulemaking. Western has determined this action does not require a 
regulatory flexibility analysis since it is not a rulemaking that 
involves rates or services applicable to public property.

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR 
part 1021), Western has determined this action is categorically 
excluded from preparing an environmental assessment or an environmental 
impact statement.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
Executive Order 12866; so this notice requires no clearance by Office 
of Management and Budget.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    Western has determined that this rule is exempt from congressional 
notification requirements under 5 U.S.C. 801 because the action is a 
rulemaking to approve or prescribe rates or services and involves 
matters of agency procedure.

    Dated: May 11, 2004.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-11412 Filed 5-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P