[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 9, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62158-62159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24465]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-434-A]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Southwest Power Pool, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Electricity, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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

SUMMARY: Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (Applicant or SPP) has applied for 
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Canada pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on 
or before December 9, 2021.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Aronoff, 202-586-5863, 
[email protected].

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 September 30, 2021, SPP filed an application with DOE 
(Application or App.) to transmit electric energy from the United 
States to Canada ``for an additional five-year term beginning on 
February 7, 2022, the date its current export authorization is set to 
expire.'' App. at 1. SPP states that it ``is an Arkansas non-profit 
corporation with its principal place of business in Little Rock, 
Arkansas.'' Id. at 3. SPP represents that, ``[a]lthough [it] 
administers the Integrated Marketplace for wholesale sales of 
electricity and transmission service across the transmission lines of 
its member utilities, . . . [it] does not own electric transmission or 
generation facilities and does not have a retail service area for the 
sale of electricity.'' Id. at 4.
    SPP explains that it ``seeks authorization to continue to export 
electric energy to Canada on an emergency basis via facilities owned by 
its member Basin Electric.'' App. at 9. SPP adds that before it applied 
initially for authorization in 2016, it ``entered into a Joint 
Operating Agreement with Saskatchewan Power Corporation (``SaskPower'') 
. . . that allows SPP to make emergency sales at the United States-
Canada border to SaskPower over the Tioga-Sask Intertie, which . . . is 
an authorized export facility under Presidential Permit No. PP-64.'' 
Id. SPP contends that its proposed exports ``will not impair the 
sufficiency of electric supply within the United States or impede or 
tend to impede the coordination in the public interest of facilities 
subject to the jurisdiction of FERC [sic].'' Id. at 11-12.
    The existing international transmission facilities to be utilized 
by the Applicant have previously been authorized by Presidential 
permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended, and are 
appropriate

[[Page 62159]]

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 SPP's application to export 
electric energy to Canada should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. 
EA-434-A. Additional copies are to be provided directly to Joseph W. 
Ghormley, 201 Worthen Drive, Little Rock, AR 72223, [email protected]; 
Matthew J. Binette, 1200 G Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, 
[email protected]; Victoria M. Lauterbach, 1200 G Street NW, Suite 
600, Washington, DC 20005, [email protected]; and Uju Okasi, 
1200 G Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005, [email protected].
    A final decision will be made on the requested authorization after 
the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's 
National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 
1021) and after DOE evaluates whether the proposed action will have an 
adverse impact on the sufficiency of supply or the 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 Matt Aronoff at [email protected].

    Signed in Washington, DC, on November 4, 2021.
Christopher Lawrence,
Management and Program Analyst, Electricity Delivery Division, Office 
of Electricity.
[FR Doc. 2021-24465 Filed 11-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P