[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 37 (Friday, February 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 11109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4302]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD12-10-000]


 Reactive Power Resources; Notice of Technical Conference

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) in a recent 
order on a California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) 
tariff filing pertaining to interconnection requirements stated that 
the CAISO's filing in this docket highlights potential issues regarding 
the need for reactive power capability among newly interconnecting 
asynchronous generators and raises questions concerning the need and 
efficacy of continuing the process established for wind resources under 
Order No. 661-A.\1\ The order directed that Staff commence a technical 
conference to examine whether the Commission should reconsider or 
modify the reactive power provisions of Order No. 661-A. The order 
stated that, as part of that technical conference, Staff should examine 
what evidence could be developed under Order No. 661 to support a 
request to apply reactive power requirements more broadly than to 
individual wind generators during the interconnection study process.\2\
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    \1\ Interconnection for Wind Energy, Order No. 661, FERC Stats. 
& Regs. ] 31,186, order on reh'g, Order No. 661-A, FERC Stats. & 
Regs. ] 31,198 (2005).
    \2\ California Independent System Operator Corporation, 137 FERC 
] 61,143 (2011).
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    Take notice that such conference will be held on April 17, 2012 at 
the Commission's headquarters at 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426, beginning at 9 a.m. (Eastern Time) in the Commission Meeting 
Room. The technical conference will be led by Commission staff.
    At the conference, discussion items will include: the technical and 
economic characteristics of different types of reactive power 
resources, including synchronous and asynchronous generation resources, 
transmission resources and energy storage resources; the design options 
for and cost of installing reactive power equipment at the time of 
interconnection as well as retrofitting a resource with reactive power 
equipment; other means by which reactive power is currently secured 
such as through self-supply; and how a technology that is capable of 
providing reactive power but may not be subject to the generation 
interconnection process (e.g., FACTs) would be analyzed. The staff is 
further interested in gathering information on methods used to 
determine the reactive power requirements for a transmission system and 
how system impact and system planning studies take into account changes 
in technologies connected to the system.
    Those interested in speaking at the conference should notify the 
Commission by close of business March 9, 2012 by completing an online 
form identifying from the above listed topics those that they wish to 
address:  https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/registration/reactive-power-4-17-12-speaker-form.asp. Due to time constraints, we may not be able to 
accommodate all those interested in speaking. The Commission will issue 
a subsequent notice that will provide the detailed agenda, including 
panel speakers.
    Advance registration is not required, but is encouraged. You may 
register at the following Web page: https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/registration/reactive-power-4-17-12-form.asp.
    The conference will be transcribed and available by webcast. 
Transcripts will be available immediately for a fee from Ace Reporting 
Company (202-347-3700 or 1-800-336-6646). A free webcast of the 
technical conference in this proceeding is also available. Anyone with 
Internet access interested in viewing this conference can do so by 
navigating to the FERC Calendar of Events at www.ferc.gov and locating 
this event in the Calendar. The event will contain a link to its 
webcast. The Capitol Connection provides technical support for the 
webcasts and offers the option of listening to the conferences via 
phone-bridge for a fee. If you have any questions, visit 
www.CapitolConnection.org or call (703) 993-3100.
    FERC conferences are accessible under section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations please 
send an email to [email protected] or call toll free 1-866-208-
3372 (voice) or 202-208-8659 (TTY); or send a fax to 202-208-2106 with 
the required accommodations.
    For more information on this conference, please contact Mary Cain 
at [email protected] or (202) 502-6337, or Sarah McKinley at 
[email protected] or (202) 502-8004.

    Dated: February 17, 2012.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-4302 Filed 2-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P