[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52784-52785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14803]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-309]


Amended Application To Export Electric Energy; Evergreen Wind 
Power, LLC

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Amended Application.

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SUMMARY: Evergreen Wind Power, LLC (Evergreen) has submitted 
supplementary information and a clarification to its application filed 
with the Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization to transmit 
electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to section 
202(e) of the Federal Power Act. Evergreen has clarified its 
application to request that DOE grant its export authorization without 
the annual energy limit presently associated with the international 
transmission lines owned by Maine Public Service Company (MPS) that 
Evergreen proposes to use for the export. Evergreen also has submitted 
technical information demonstrating that the power transfer limit 
associated with these transmission lines is actually higher than that 
previously authorized by DOE and requests its authorization be granted 
at the higher limit. DOE hereby gives notice that, based on the 
submitted information, it plans to remove the annual energy limit on 
the MPS lines and allow the higher transfer rates for all exports over 
those lines.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before September 22, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability (Mail Code OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-586-5860).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9506 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United 
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization 
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 
824a(e)).
    On March 20, 2006, the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability (OE) of DOE received an application from Evergreen to 
transmit electric energy from the U.S. to Canada. Notice of the 
application appeared in the Federal Register on April 18, 2006 (71 FR 
19880) requesting any comments, protests, or petitions to intervene. 
None were received. Evergreen supplemented its application in filings 
received by DOE on July 31, 2006, regarding the higher power transfer 
limit, and on August 21, 2006, regarding the removal of the annual 
energy limit.
    Evergreen is proposing to construct a 49.5-megawatt (MW) wind 
generation facility, the Mars Hill Project, in Aroostook, Maine, and 
will sell the electrical output of the facility within the U.S. and/or 
to customers in Canada. The electric energy to be exported to Canada 
would be transmitted over the international transmission facilities 
owned by MPS and authorized by Presidential Permits PP-12 and PP-29.
    Exports over the PP-12 and PP-29 facilities are presently limited 
to a total of 40,000 MWh per year with a power transfer limit of 40.8 
MW. Evergreen has submitted technical information which demonstrates 
that the power transfer limit for the combination of the PP-12 and PP-
29 facilities is now 97.8 MW, not the 40.8 MW previously authorized. 
Evergreen also asserts that if it were subject to the existing 40,000-
MWh annual energy limit it would severely hinder its ability to 
maximize the output of the Mars Hill Project.
    DOE proposes to issue an export authorization to Evergreen at the 
98.7-MW power transfer limit and without the annual energy limits. DOE 
notes that it has previously authorized numerous entities to export 
over the PP-12 and PP-29 facilities and that each of those 
authorizations contained the 40,000-MWh energy limit and the 40.8-MW 
power transfer limit. DOE further proposes that all entities previously 
authorized by DOE to export over the PP-12 and PP-29 facilities would 
be permitted to export at the higher power transfer limit with no 
annual energy limit.
    Evergreen has also requested DOE expedite the processing of its 
application in order that Evergreen may complete certain scheduled 
financing transactions. Accordingly, DOE has shortened the public 
comment period to 15 days.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to this 
proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to this 
application

[[Page 52785]]

should file a petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address 
provided above in accordance with Sec. Sec.  385.211 or 385.214 of the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures 
(18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each petition and protest 
should be filed with DOE on or before the date listed above.
    Comments on the Evergreen application to export electric energy to 
Canada should be clearly marked with Docket EA-309. Additional copies 
are to be filed directly with Peter Gish, General Counsel, Evergreen 
Wind Power, LLC, 100 Wells Avenue, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02459, and 
David L. Schwartz, Natasha Gianvecchio, Sue Wang, Latham & Watkins LLP, 
555 Eleventh Street, NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and a determination is made by DOE 
that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the reliability 
of the U.S. electric power supply system.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by 
emailing Odessa Hopkins at [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
 [FR Doc. E6-14803 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P