[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 22770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10110]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


National Electric Transmission Congestion Study

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE), 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of 2009 National Electric Transmission 
Congestion Study and Request for Comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the ``Department'') gives notice 
that it has issued a National Electric Transmission Congestion Study 
(2009 Congestion Study) and is seeking comments on all aspects of the 
study. The full text of the 2009 Congestion Study is available at 
http://www.oe.energy.gov.

DATES: Written comments may be filed electronically in MS Word and PDF 
formats. Comments regarding the 2009 Congestion Study should be emailed 
to [email protected]. Comments should be received no later than 5 
p.m. EDT June 29, 2010. Also, comments can be filed by mail at the 
address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Written comments via mail should be submitted to: Office of 
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, Attention: 1221 
Comments, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6H050, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.

    Note:  Delivery of U.S. Postal Service mail sent to the 
Department continues to be delayed by several weeks due to security 
screening procedures. Electronic submission of comments is therefore 
encouraged. Copies of written comments received and other relevant 
documents and information may be reviewed at http://www.congestion09.anl.gov.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Meyer, Office Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-1411, 
[email protected], or Lot Cooke, Office of General Counsel, GC-76, 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-0503, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1221(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (EPAct) directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct periodic 
nationwide studies of electric transmission congestion. The initial 
study was to be completed within one year of enactment of the EPAct 
with subsequent studies every three years thereafter. The American 
Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) further directed 
the Secretary to include in the 2009 Congestion Study an analysis of 
significant potential sources of renewable energy that are constrained 
by lack of adequate transmission capacity. Based on the Congestion 
Study, and comments concerning it from states and other stakeholders, 
the Secretary of Energy may designate any geographic area experiencing 
electric transmission capacity constraints or congestion as a national 
interest electric transmission corridor (National Corridor).
    In August 2006, the Department published its first National 
Electric Transmission Congestion Study.\1\ In 2007, based in part on 
the findings of that study and after considering the comments of 
stakeholders, the Secretary designated two National Corridors, one in 
the Mid-Atlantic area and one covering portions of southern California 
and western Arizona, reflecting the high impacts of transmission 
congestion in each area.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See 71 FR 45047 (August 6, 2006).
    \2\ See 72 FR 56992 (October 5, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The 2009 Congestion Study has been completed and issued by the 
Department. The study is available for review at the website listed 
above. Based on the study, the Department found three classes of 
congestion areas that merit further federal attention: Critical 
Congestion Areas, Congestion Areas of Concern, and a Conditional 
Constrained Area.
    The Department stated when it announced the beginning of its work 
on the 2009 Congestion Study that the study would focus on the 
identification of existing electric transmission-level congestion based 
on publicly available historic information and data related to 
transmission congestion. The information and data used by DOE in 
conducting the analysis in the 2009 Congestion Study was that which was 
available through May 2009. As a result the study does not address the 
possible impacts of the recent recession on congestion, or any other 
recent events, reports, or other developments affecting congestion.
    The Department is seeking comments from interested persons on the 
2009 Congestion Study, and on future steps for identifying and 
addressing electric transmission congestion, including the possible 
designation of National Corridors. Commenters may address any aspect of 
this study they consider appropriate. The Department intends to update, 
or issue an addendum to, this study in which it may consider the effect 
of the recession on congestion identified in the study, comments 
received on this version of the study, and the implications of 
additional data or information that has become available since May 
2009. The Department invites commenters to direct it to data, 
publications, or other information that they believe relevant to this 
additional analysis.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2010.
Patricia A. Hoffman,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2010-10110 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P