[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 181 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53560-53561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18480]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Wind Hydropower Integration Feasibility Study

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of a Draft Study Work Plan.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is publishing 
this notice to inform interested parties of the draft Study Work Plan 
for performing the Wind Hydropower Integration Feasibility Study 
(WHFS). The WHFS involves a study on the integration of wind energy 
generated by Indian tribes and hydropower generated by the Army Corps 
of Engineers on the Missouri River to supply power to Western. This 
study applies only to Western's Upper Great Plains Region (UGPR).

DATES: The comment period begins today and will end October 19, 2007. 
Western will hold a public meeting on the draft Study Work Plan 
associated with the WHFS on September 27, 2007, and will commence at 9 
a.m. CDT.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Mr. Robert J. Harris, Regional 
Manager, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 
2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, or e-mail 
[email protected]. The public meeting location is the Comfort 
Inn, 1030 East Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael A. Radecki, Energy 
Services Specialist, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, 
telephone (406) 247-7442, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy Act of 2005, section 2606 
(EPAct 2005, Sec 2606), Public Law 109-058, requires that:

    The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of 
the Army and the Secretary, shall conduct a study of the cost and 
feasibility of developing a demonstration project that uses wind 
energy generated by Indian tribes and hydropower generated by the 
Army Corps of Engineers on the Missouri River to supply firming 
power to the Western Area Power Administration.

    EPAct 2005, Sec. 2606 also directed the formation of a study team 
to include an independent tribal engineer and a Western customer 
representative. In March 2007, through written correspondence, Western 
requested nominations for an independent tribal engineer from each of 
the 25 Indian tribes in the UGPR. Three Indian tribes and one tribal 
organization responded to this request and are serving as WHFS study 
team members. Western solicited non-tribal customer representation 
through the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association, which represents 
the majority of Western's customers in the UGPR. Three UGPR customers 
serve as customer representative project team members.

Objectives

    The objectives of the WHFS as required by EPAct 2005, Sec. 2606, 
include: (1) Determine the economic and engineering feasibility of 
blending wind energy and hydropower generated from the Missouri River 
dams operated by the Army Corps of Engineers, including an assessment 
of the costs and benefits of blending wind energy and hydropower 
compared to current sources used for firming power to Western; (2) 
review historical and projected requirements for patterns of 
availability and use and reasons for historical patterns concerning the 
availability of firming power; (3) assess the wind energy resource 
potential on tribal land and projected cost savings through a blend of 
wind and hydropower over a 30-year period; (4) determine the seasonal 
capacity needs and associated transmission upgrades for integration of 
tribal wind generation and identify costs associated with these 
activities; and (5) incorporate to the extent appropriate the results 
of the Dakotas Wind Transmission Study.

WHFS Work Scope

    Western seeks public comment on the proposed scope of work.
    The draft WHFS work plan has been structured to address the 
requirements of EPAct 2005, Sec. 2606, as well as incorporate and make 
best use of previous wind integration and transmission studies. The 
WHFS work plan consists of six work elements, which have been 
summarized below. The complete work plan can be found at http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Power_Marketing/WindHydro/Default.htm.

Work Element 1: WHFS Work Plan

    Develop a final work plan that will communicate the overall 
approach to the WHFS Project Team and the general public. A proposed 
WHFS work plan was initially developed and reviewed by the study team 
and is now available for public review and comment.

Work Element 2: Analysis of Historical Western Purchase Requirements

    This work element will assess a broad range of historical 
requirements and costs for additional capacity and energy required to 
meet Western's firm power obligations. Specific objectives of this work 
element include the identification of historical purchase power 
patterns as compared to availability of hydropower system load 
characteristics and other system requirements. The results of this work 
element will serve as a foundation for determining an appropriate 
quantity of tribal wind energy integration and the best possible 
locations for tribal wind energy projects.

Work Element 3: Wind Project Identification

    A standard questionnaire will be developed to obtain information on 
proposed projects to demonstrate potential costs and benefits 
associated with the use of wind power to displace energy that would 
otherwise be purchased. It is expected that potential projects will be 
in various stages of development and may, therefore, result in less 
than complete information.

Work Element 4: Transmission System Evaluation

    Potential tribal wind energy projects identified in Work Element 3 
will be assessed for potential impacts to the UGPR transmission system, 
including the scope and costs of any transmission system improvements 
or modifications required to integrate potential tribal wind energy 
projects.

Work Element 5: Assessment of UGPR Impacts

    This work element will consist of two major components: (1) Long-
term economics and (2) operational feasibility. Both components will be 
assessed through the use of PROMOD IV software. The long-term economics 
are predominantly driven by the market price of purchased power as 
compared to the cost of displacement energy generated by tribal energy 
projects. The operational feasibility study will assess various degrees 
of wind energy integration and the resulting impacts on UGPR's overall 
system operations and transmission constraints.

Work Element 6: WHFS Report

    The resulting WHFS report will address the efforts and conclusions 
of each work element as well as contain: (1) A comparison of the 
potential energy cost or benefits to the customers of Western through 
the use of combined wind and hydropower; (2) a description of the 
economics and engineering/

[[Page 53561]]

operational characteristics of the combined wind and hydropower system 
on Western's UGPR, including potential reductions of reservoir 
fluctuation, enhanced efficient and reliable energy production, and 
identified Missouri River management flexibility; (3) recommendations 
and general criteria for a project to be carried out by Western in 
partnership with an Indian tribal government or tribal energy resource 
development organization and Western customers to demonstrate the 
feasibility and potential of using wind energy produced on Indian land 
to supply firming energy to Western; (4) a discussion of identified 
economic and environmental cost of, or benefits to be realized through, 
a Federal-tribal-customer partnership; and (5) an identification of the 
manner in which a Federal-tribal-customer partnership could contribute 
to the energy security of the United States.

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. Wind turbine models will reflect 
specifications identified per each tribal energy project.

Availability of Information

    The WHFS work plan will be available for inspection and copying at 
the UGPR office located at 2900 4th Ave. North, Billings, Montana. This 
document is also available for viewing at http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Power_Marketing/WindHydro/Default.htm.

Work Plan Procedure Requirements

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the 
Office of Management and Budget is required.

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE 
NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), Western 
is in the process of determining whether an environmental assessment or 
an environmental impact statement should be prepared or if this action 
can be categorically excluded from those requirements.

    Dated: September 12, 2007.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-18480 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P