[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9139-9140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02674]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[GDO Docket No. EA-505]


Application for Authorization To Export Electric Energy; Altop 
Energy Trading LLC

AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Altop Energy Trading LLC (the Applicant) has applied for 
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

[[Page 9140]]


DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on 
or before March 11, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for 
more information should be addressed by electronic mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Gomer, (240) 474-2403, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Department of Energy (DOE) 
regulates electricity exports from the United States to foreign 
countries in accordance with section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act 
(FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)) and regulations thereunder (10 CFR 205.300 et 
seq.). Sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the DOE Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7151(b) and 7172(f)) transferred this regulatory authority, 
previously exercised by the now-defunct Federal Power Commission, to 
DOE.
    Section 202(e) of the FPA provides that an entity which seeks to 
export electricity must obtain an order from DOE authorizing that 
export (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)). On April 10, 2023, the authority to issue 
such orders was delegated to the DOE's Grid Deployment Office (GDO) by 
Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S3-2023 and Redelegation Order No. S3-DEL-
GD1-2023.
    On December 28, 2023, the Applicant filed an application with DOE 
(Application or App.) to transmit electric energy from the United 
States to Mexico for a term of five-years. App. at 1.
    Altop Energy Trading LLC is a Delaware Limited Liability Company 
with its principal place of business in Houston, Texas. App. at 1. The 
Applicant is engaged in the trading and marketing of both financial and 
physical electricity in the wholesale power markets in North America. 
Id. Altop Energy Trading LLC represents that is ``solely owned by Altop 
Energy Investments LP.'' Id. Further, the Applicant states that it has 
a Market-Based Rate Authorization from FERC. Id.
    The Applicant states it ``has no obligation to serve native load, 
does not own or operate any electric distribution or transmission 
facilities, does not own or operate any natural gas distribution or 
transmission facilities, and does not own or operate any generation 
assets.'' App. at 1. The Applicant represents that the ``electric power 
will either be purchased from the bordering wholesale markets of ERCOT 
or CAISO, or a variety of third parties such as power marketers, 
independent power producers, electric utilities, or federal power 
marketing entities.'' Id. at 2. Altop Energy Trading LLC asserts that 
its proposed exports would ``be surplus to the requirements of the 
selling entities and the overall electrical system'' and ``will not 
impair the reliability of the grid.'' Id.
    The existing international transmission facilities to be utilized 
by the Applicant have been previously authorized by Presidential 
permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended, and are 
appropriate for open access transmission by third parties. See App. at 
Exhibit C.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this 
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the Application at 
[email protected]. Protests should be filed in accordance 
with Rule 211 of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) 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 
[email protected] in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 
385.214).
    Comments and other filings concerning Altop Energy Trading LLC's 
Application should be clearly marked with GDO Docket No. EA-505. 
Additional copies are to be provided directly to Gebre-Egziabher Gebre, 
Principal, 440 Louisiana Street, Suite 575, Houston, TX 77002, 
[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 reliability of the 
United States electric power supply system.
    Copies of this Application will be made available, upon request, by 
accessing the program website at https://www.energy.gov/gdo/pending-applications-0 or by emailing [email protected].
    Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was 
signed on January 30, 2024, by Maria Robinson, Director, Grid 
Deployment Office, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary 
of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is 
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance 
with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the 
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to 
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as 
an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative 
process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon 
publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC on February 6, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-02674 Filed 2-8-24; 8:45 am]
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