[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 226 (Friday, November 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70636-70637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27719]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Southwestern Power Administration


Solicitation of Interest for Transmission Line Projects Under 
EPAct05 Section 1222 Associated With Renewable Generation Sources

AGENCY: United States Department of Energy, Southwestern Power 
Administration.

ACTION: Request for Statements of Interest.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Energy (DOE or Department) 
acting through the Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern), a 
power marketing administration within the Department, is seeking 
Statements of Interest (SOIs) from entities that are interested in 
providing contributed funds for Southwestern's participation in the 
upgrade of Southwestern's existing transmission facilities or the 
construction of new transmission line projects in the states in which 
Southwestern operates. The purpose of the request for SOIs is to 
identify potential projects which would facilitate the transmission of 
wind generation or other renewable generation sources to load centers 
under the authority granted the Secretary of Energy in section 1222

[[Page 70637]]

of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct05) (Pub. L. 109-58; 119 Stat. 
952).

DATES: To be assured of consideration, all SOIs should be received at 
Southwestern Power Administration by January 5, 2009.

ADDRESSES: SOIs should be mailed to: Mr. James K. McDonald, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Corporate Operations, Southwestern Power 
Administration, One West Third Street, Suite 1400, Tulsa, OK 74103. 
Responses may also be e-mailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning the 
SOIs, contact: Mr. James K. McDonald, Assistant Administrator, Office 
of Corporate Operations, Southwestern Power Administration, One West 
Third Street, Suite 1400, Tulsa, OK 74103, telephone 918-595-6690, e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 5 of the Flood Control 
Act of 1944, Southwestern, a DOE agency, markets and transmits 
wholesale electrical power from 24 multiple purpose reservoir projects 
constructed by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to cooperatives, government 
agencies, and municipalities. Southwestern operates and maintains 1,380 
miles of high-voltage transmission lines located in the states of 
Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Southwestern markets power in the 
states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. 
Under the Energy and Water Appropriations Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-37), 
Southwestern was granted permanent authority to accept contributed 
funds under section 5 of the Flood Control Act. Those contributed funds 
can only be used to fund work for projects that would be used to 
transport federally produced electricity.
    Since 2005, the Secretary of Energy (Secretary), acting through the 
Administrators of Southwestern or Western Area Power Administration 
(Western), has had the authority to accept contributed funds under 
section 1222(c) of EPAct05 to design, develop, construct, operate, 
maintain, or own, or participate with other entities in designing, 
developing, constructing, operating, maintaining, or owning, an 
electric power transmission facility and related facilities needed to 
upgrade existing transmission facilities owned by Southwestern and 
Western if the electric transmission facilities are located in a 
national interest electric transmission corridor designated pursuant to 
section 216 of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824o), or are necessary 
to accommodate an actual or projected increase in demand for electric 
transmission capacity. Section 1222(b) of EPAct05 grants the Secretary, 
acting through the Administrators of Southwestern or Western authority 
for developing new electric transmission facilities, similar to that 
provided in section 1222(a) for existing facilities, in states in which 
Southwestern and Western operate. Section 1222(c) provides for the 
Secretary to accept and use funds contributed by another entity for the 
purpose of carrying out a project. Section 1222(g) of EPAct05 provides 
that through September 30, 2015, the Secretary may accept no more than 
$100 million from other entities for use in developing projects. In 
order to exercise these authorities, the Secretary, in consultation 
with the applicable Administrator, must make certain determinations 
provided in section 1222 of EPAct05 with respect to the project.
    Given the economic, environmental, and national security benefits 
flowing from the use of electricity generated from renewable energy 
resources, Southwestern is seeking SOIs from entities that are 
interested in providing contributed funds for Southwestern's 
participation in the design, development, or construction of upgraded 
or new transmission projects that would facilitate the transmission of 
wind generation or other renewable generation from remote locations to 
distant load centers.
    The SOIs should include the following information:
    1. Name and general description of the entity submitting the SOI.
    2. Name, mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and 
e-mail address of that entity's primary contact.
    3. A description of the proposed transmission project including 
project location (location must be within states in which Southwestern 
operates), minimum transfer capability, descriptions of any previous 
transmission work done for the proposed project (plan of service, cost 
estimate, schedule, system studies, environmental activity, siting 
activity, etc.), and any other information that would be useful in 
evaluating the proposed transmission project.
    4. Description of the renewable energy resources the proposed 
project would serve, including type(s) of renewable resource, size and 
general location of the resource, general location of load or markets, 
availability of generation-related ancillary services, a description of 
the entity's involvement in the renewable energy resource, if any, and 
any other information that would be useful in evaluating the project.
    5. Amount of transmission rights or long-term transmission service 
the entity may desire if and when the project is completed.
    6. The proposed role that Southwestern might play in the 
development of the transmission project.
    7. The amount of funds the entity might be willing to contribute to 
Southwestern to accomplish its role.
    8. A brief description of any other information that would be 
useful in evaluating the SOI.
    Each SOI will be evaluated by Southwestern, for ultimate 
recommendation to the Secretary, based on the feasibility of developing 
a project that meets the criteria set forth in EPAct05 section 1222, 
while advancing the goal of facilitating the transmission of wind 
generation or other renewable generation sources from remote locations 
to distant load centers. Given the $100 million limit through September 
15, 2015, on the Secretary's authority to accept contributed funds, the 
SOIs received in response to this request, and the request for SOIs 
simultaneously being issued by Western, will be evaluated through a 
competitive evaluation process.

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE 
NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), 
Southwestern has determined this action is categorically excluded from 
further NEPA analysis. Future actions that the Secretary and 
Southwestern may undertake under EPAct05 section 1222 as a result of 
this request will undergo separate NEPA analysis on a project by 
project basis.

    Dated: November 13, 2008.
Jon C. Worthington,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-27719 Filed 11-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P