[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42465-42466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10558]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[GDO Docket No. EA-509]


Application for Authorization To Export Electric Energy; Merelec 
USA LLC

AGENCY:  Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Merelec USA LLC (the Applicant or Merelec USA) 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 June 14, 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: Janessa Zucchetto, (240) 474-8226, 
[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 January 29, 2024, Merelec USA 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.
    According to the Application, Merelec USA is a limited liability 
corporation, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of 
the State of Texas. App. at Exhibit B. Merelec USA represents it is 95% 
owned by MECSA Holding LLC, and 5% owned by an individual, Geibi 
Menjivar. Id. at 3. Merelec USA further states ``MECSA Holding LLC is 
wholly-owned by four individuals, each with a 25% ownership share: 
Gustavo Napole[oacute]n Ch[aacute]vez, Carolina Beatriz Ch[aacute]vez 
D[iacute]az, Gustavo Enrique Ch[aacute]vez D[iacute]az, and Carlos 
Guillermo Ch[aacute]vez D[iacute]az.'' Id. According to the 
application, ``Merelec USA is a power marketer authorized by the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (``FERC'') to make sales of 
electric power at wholesale in interstate commerce at market-based 
rates.'' Id. at 2. The Applicant further states it ``will purchase the 
energy to be exported from wholesale generators, electric utilities, 
and federal power marketing agencies. The instant application relates 
to Merelec USA as a marketer of electric energy only.'' Id. at 2-3.
    The Applicant asserts it ``does not own or control any transmission 
facilities and does not have a franchised service area'' App. at 2. The 
Applicant represents that it ``will make all necessary commercial 
arrangements and will obtain any and all other regulatory approvals 
required in order to carry out any electricity exports[,]'' including: 
``(1) scheduling each transaction with the appropriate balancing 
authority area in compliance with all reliability criteria, standards, 
and guidelines of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation 
and the relevant Regional Entities (collectively, ``NERC'') in effect 
at the time of export, and (2) obtaining all necessary transmission 
access over approved export facilities.'' Id. at 3. Merelec USA notes 
it will purchase the electricity that it may export, on either a firm 
or an interruptible basis, from wholesale generators, electric 
utilities, federal power marketing agencies, and affiliates through 
negotiated agreements that have been voluntarily executed by the 
selling parties after considering their own need for any such 
electricity. Id. at 2-3. For these reasons, the Applicant asserts that 
``proposed electricity 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. 
at 3.
    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

[[Page 42466]]

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 Merelec USA's Application 
should be clearly marked with GDO Docket No. EA-509. Additional copies 
are to be provided directly to Gustavo Enrique Ch[aacute]vez 
D[iacute]az, Merelec USA LLC, 3000 Wilcrest Drive, Houston, TX 77042, 
[email protected], and Frederick G. Jauss IV, Husch Blackwell 
LLP, 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20006-
3606, [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 May 9, 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 May 9, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-10558 Filed 5-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P