[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 55671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19894]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-407-A]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Vitol Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Electricity, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Vitol Inc. (Applicant or Vitol) has applied for authorization 
to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant 
to the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on 
or before October 9, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for 
more information should be addressed by electronic mail to 
[email protected], or by facsimile to (202) 586-8008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy (DOE) regulates 
exports of electricity from the United States to a foreign country, 
pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b) and 42 U.S.C. 7172(f)). Such 
exports require authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal Power 
Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).
    On August 25, 2020, Vitol filed an application with DOE 
(Application or App.) to transmit electric energy from the United 
States to Mexico for a term of five years. Vitol states that it ``is a 
Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Houston, 
Texas'' and that it ``is a wholly-owned, direct subsidiary of Vitol US 
Holding Co.'' App. at 4. Vitol adds that it ``does not own any electric 
generation or transmission facilities, nor does it hold a franchise or 
service territory for the transmission, distribution, or sale of 
electric power.'' Id. at 6.
    Vitol further states that it ``has purchased, or will purchase, the 
power that may be exported to Mexico from wholesale generators, 
electric utilities, and federal power marketing agencies.'' App. at 6. 
Vitol contends that any power it purchased for export would be 
``surplus to the needs of the selling entities.'' See id. at 7. 
Further, ``the proposed exports will not impair or tend to impede the 
sufficiency of electric power supplies in the United States or the 
regional coordination of electric utility planning or operations.'' Id.
    Vitol also ``agrees to abide by the export limits contained in the 
relevant [authorizations] of any [approved] transmission facilities,'' 
and states that ``[t]he controls that are inherent in any transaction 
that complies with all [reliability] requirements and the export limits 
imposed by the Department on the international transmission facilities 
are sufficient to ensure that exports by Vitol would not impede or tend 
to impede the coordinated use of transmission facilities'' under the 
Federal Power Act. App. at 8.
    The existing international transmission facilities that would be 
utilized by the Applicant have previously been authorized by 
Presidential permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as 
amended, and are appropriate for open access transmission by third 
parties.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this 
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the Application at the 
address provided above. Protests should be filed in accordance with 
Rule 211 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become 
a party to this proceeding should file a motion to intervene at the 
above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214).
    Comments and other filings concerning Vitol's application to export 
electric energy to Mexico should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. 
EA-407-A. Additional copies are to be provided directly to Robert 
Viola, 2925 Richmond Avenue, 11th Floor, Houston, TX 77098; 
[email protected]; Daniel E. Frank, 700 Sixth St. NW, Suite 700, 
Washington, DC 20001; sutherland.com">danielfrank@eversheds-sutherland.com; Martha M. 
Hopkins, 700 Sixth St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001; 
sutherland.com">martyhopkins@eversheds-sutherland.com.
    A final decision will be made on the Application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) and 
after DOE determines that the proposed action will not have an adverse 
impact on the sufficiency of supply or reliability of the U.S. electric 
power supply system.
    Copies of the Application will be made available, upon request, by 
accessing the program website at http://energy.gov/node/11845, or by 
emailing Matthew Aronoff at [email protected].

    Signed in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2020.
Christopher Lawrence,
Management and Program Analyst, Transmission Permitting and Technical 
Assistance, Office of Electricity.
[FR Doc. 2020-19894 Filed 9-8-20; 8:45 am]
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