[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 69338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22628]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Solicitation of Interest for New Transmission Capacity Between 
Wyoming and Colorado

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Request for Statements of Interest.

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SUMMARY: The electricity corridor between southeastern Wyoming and 
northeastern Colorado has experienced a transmission constraint for a 
number of years. This constraint is designated in the Western 
Electricity Coordinating Council's Path Rating Catalog and referenced 
in this notice as ``TOT 3.''
    To examine possibilities for relieving the TOT 3 constraint, the 
Western Area Power Administration (Western) has entered into a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Wyoming Infrastructure 
Authority (WIA) and Trans-Elect, Inc. (Trans-Elect). Under this MOU, 
Western is soliciting expressions of interest from entities desiring 
transmission rights on a new line potentially to be built across TOT 3.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, all Statements of Interest 
should be submitted in a non-confidential manner and received at 
Western's Rocky Mountain Regional Office by December 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Statements of Interest should be mailed to: Mr. Robert 
Kennedy, Restructuring Manager, Rocky Mountain Region, Western Area 
Power Administration, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO 
80538. Statements of Interest may also be faxed to (970) 461-7423 or e-
mailed to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TOT 3, a long-recognized transmission 
constraint between Colorado and Wyoming, has been the subject of many 
studies and reports over the past several years. Most recently, the 
September 2004 ``Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study'' (RMATS) 
report identified TOT 3 as a transmission expansion project that, if 
and when completed, could bring substantial benefits to the area by 
encouraging the siting and construction of low-cost clean coal and wind 
projects in Wyoming to serve the electricity needs of customers along 
Colorado's Front Range. Such a project is supported by Wyoming's 
Governor David Freudenthal, the Wyoming Congressional delegation, and 
the wide range of stakeholders that comprised the RMATS effort. 
However, due to economic and operational factors, interest from 
entities willing to fund transmission capacity expansions across TOT 3 
has been significantly less than that envisioned by the RMATS 
participants. To encourage interested entities to consider 
participating in the TOT 3 expansion, Western entered into a MOU with 
WIA and Trans-Elect as part of a collaborative attempt to examine 
possibilities for constructing such a project.
    The three MOU parties represent a diverse range of stakeholder 
interests. Western, a power marketing administration within the 
Department of Energy, has extensive experience in transmission 
operations, construction, and maintenance across its 15-state service 
territory. Western has general authority under the Department of Energy 
Organization Act to construct, operate, and maintain transmission lines 
and related facilities, and is a partial owner of the existing 
transmission capacity across, and the path operator of, TOT 3. WIA was 
formed in June 2004 by the State of Wyoming to facilitate expansion of 
the state's transmission system, including TOT 3, and has been granted 
bonding authority by the State legislature for that purpose. Trans-
Elect is an independent transmission developer, owner, and operator. 
Trans-Elect previously partnered with Western on the Path 15 
transmission expansion project in California.
    Western is issuing this notice to solicit the interest of entities 
desiring new transmission capacity across TOT 3. WIA and Trans-Elect 
will contribute the funding and staffing necessary to conduct (1) 
coordination meetings among interested entities, and (2) feasibility 
studies that may be generated as a result of those meetings. Western 
has agreed to provide technical assistance for the feasibility studies, 
but has no project-related funding commitments.
    Specifically, Western seeks to identify all entities interested in 
acquiring transmission rights on a new 500-megawatt line potentially to 
be built across TOT 3, the cost of which was estimated by the RMATS 
study to be $318 million for a 345-kilovolt project. Interested 
entities should submit Statements of Interest including the following 
information:
    1. Name and general description of the entity.
    2. Name, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and 
e-mail address of the entity's primary contact.
    3. Amount of transmission rights the entity may desire if and when 
the project is completed.
    Western will compile and forward all Statements of Interest to WIA 
and Trans-Elect. Accordingly, to be assured of consideration, 
Statements of Interest should be submitted in a non-confidential manner 
as discussed previously.

    Dated: November 3, 2005.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-22628 Filed 11-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P