[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 155 (Monday, August 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65619-65620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17885]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[GDO Docket No. EA-475-A]


Application for Renewal of Authorization To Export Electric 
Energy; Idaho Power Company

AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Idaho Power Company (Idaho Power or Applicant) has applied for 
renewed 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 September 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: 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) 
under Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S3-2023 and Redelegation Order No. 
S3-DEL-GD1-2023.
    On July 18, 2019, DOE issued Order No. EA-475 authorizing Idaho 
Power to transmit electric energy from the United States to Canada for 
a term of five years. On July 1, 2024, Idaho power filed an Application 
(Application or App.) for renewal of its export authority for a five-
year term. App. at 1.
    According to the Application, Idaho Power is ``a regulated 
electrical power utility engaged in the business of generating, 
purchasing, transmitting, and distributing electrical energy.'' Id. at 
2. The Applicant states that it is incorporated under the laws of 
Idaho, a wholly owned subsidiary of IDACORP, Inc., and authorized to 
operate in Idaho and Oregon. Id.
    The Applicant states that it ``buys and sells surplus energy 
pursuant to voluntary bilateral contracts with electric utilities and 
other suppliers within the United States.'' Id. Additionally, the 
Applicant represents that it ``will export excess energy to Canada by 
making all necessary commercial arrangements, obtaining sufficient 
transmission capacity to wheel the exported energy to the border 
system, and coordinating with all parties as required by applicable 
market rules and the reliability standards implemented by North 
American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).'' Id. at 3. Idaho 
Power further states that it ``agrees to abide by the export limits on 
any border facility to which it transports the excess energy.'' Id. 
Idaho Power asserts that its proposed exports ``will not impair its 
ability to meet native load demands, regional load obligations, or 
prospective wholesale power-supply responsibilities'' or ``affect its 
ability to maintain appropriate reserve levels of energy.'' App. at 3. 
Accordingly, Idaho Power states that its ``export of power will not 
impair the sufficiency of the Electric power supply in the United 
States or 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 id. at 
Exhibit C.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this 
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the Application at the 
email address provided previously. Protests should be filed in 
accordance with Rule 211 of 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 the previously provided email 
address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214).
    Comments and other filings concerning Idaho Power's Application 
should be clearly marked with GDO Docket No. EA-475-A. Additional 
copies are to be provided directly to Lisa O'Hara, Idaho Power Company, 
1221 West Idaho Street, Boise, Idaho 83702, [email protected], and 
Jaren Wieland, 512 W Idaho Street, Suite 103, Boise, Idaho 83702, 
[email protected].
    A final decision will be made on the requested authorization after 
the environmental impacts have been

[[Page 65620]]

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 August 2, 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 August 7, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-17885 Filed 8-9-24; 8:45 am]
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