Wind Hydropower Integration Feasibility Study
Sep 19, 2007 --
Energy Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks
The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is publishing this notice to
inform interested parties of the draft Study Work Plan for performing the
Wind Hydropower Integration Feasibility Study (WHFS). The WHFS involves a
study on the integration of wind energy generated by Indian tribes and
hydropower generated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the Missouri River to
supply power to Western. This study applies only to Western's Upper Great
Plains Region (UGPR).
DATES: The comment period begins today and will end October 19, 2007.
Western will hold a public meeting on the draft Study Work Plan associated
with the WHFS on September 27, 2007, and will commence at 9 a.m. CDT.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Mr. Robert J. Harris, Regional Manager,
Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration, 2900 4th
Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, or e-mail UGPWindHydroFS@wapa.gov.
The public meeting location is the Comfort Inn, 1030 East Interstate Avenue,
Bismarck, North Dakota.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael A. Radecki, Energy Services
Specialist, Upper Great Plains Region, Western Area Power Administration,
2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101-1266, telephone (406) 247-7442,
e-mail radecki@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Energy Policy Act of 2005, section 2606 (EPAct
2005, Sec 2606), Public Law 109-058, requires that:
The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of the Army and
the Secretary, shall conduct a study of the cost and feasibility of
developing a demonstration project that uses wind energy generated by Indian
tribes and hydropower generated by the Army Corps of Engineers on the
Missouri River to supply firming power to the Western Area Power
Administration.
EPAct 2005, Sec. 2606 also directed the formation of a study team to include
an independent tribal engineer and a Western customer representative. In
March 2007, through written correspondence, Western requested nominations
for an independent tribal engineer from each of the 25 Indian tribes in the
UGPR. Three Indian tribes and one tribal organization responded to this
request and are serving as WHFS study team members. Western solicited
non-tribal customer representation through the Mid-West Electric Consumers
Association, which represents the majority of Western's customers in the
UGPR. Three UGPR customers serve as customer representative project team
members.
Objectives
The objectives of the WHFS as required by EPAct 2005, Sec. 2606, include:
(1) Determine the economic and engineering feasibility of blending wind
energy and hydropower generated from the Missouri River dams operated by the
Army Corps of Engineers, including an assessment of the costs and benefits
of blending wind energy and hydropower compared to current sources used for
firming power to Western; (2) review historical and projected requirements
for patterns of availability and use and reasons for historical patterns
concerning the availability of firming power; (3) assess the wind energy
resource potential on tribal land and projected cost savings through a blend
of wind and hydropower over a 30-year period; (4) determine the seasonal
capacity needs and associated transmission upgrades for integration of
tribal wind generation and identify costs associated with these activities;
and (5) incorporate to the extent appropriate the results of the Dakotas
Wind Transmission Study.
WHFS Work Scope
Western seeks public comment on the proposed scope of work.
The draft WHFS work plan has been structured to address the requirements of
EPAct 2005, Sec. 2606, as well as incorporate and make best use of previous
wind integration and transmission studies. The WHFS work plan consists of
six work elements, which have been summarized below. The complete work plan
can be found at http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Power_Marketing/WindHydro/Default.htm.
Work Element 1: WHFS Work Plan
Develop a final work plan that will communicate the overall approach to the
WHFS Project Team and the general public. A proposed WHFS work plan was
initially developed and reviewed by the study team and is now available for
public review and comment.
Work Element 2: Analysis of Historical Western Purchase Requirements
This work element will assess a broad range of historical requirements and
costs for additional capacity and energy required to meet Western's firm
power obligations. Specific objectives of this work element include the
identification of historical purchase power patterns as compared to
availability of hydropower system load characteristics and other system
requirements. The results of this work element will serve as a foundation
for determining an appropriate quantity of tribal wind energy integration
and the best possible locations for tribal wind energy projects.
Work Element 3: Wind Project Identification
A standard questionnaire will be developed to obtain information on proposed
projects to demonstrate potential costs and benefits associated with the use
of wind power to displace energy that would otherwise be purchased. It is
expected that potential projects will be in various stages of development
and may, therefore, result in less than complete information.
Work Element 4: Transmission System Evaluation
Potential tribal wind energy projects identified in Work Element 3 will be
assessed for potential impacts to the UGPR transmission system, including
the scope and costs of any transmission system improvements or modifications
required to integrate potential tribal wind energy projects.
Work Element 5: Assessment of UGPR Impacts
This work element will consist of two major components: (1) Long-term
economics and (2) operational feasibility. Both components will be assessed
through the use of PROMOD IV software. The long-term economics are
predominantly driven by the market price of purchased power as compared to
the cost of displacement energy generated by tribal energy projects. The
operational feasibility study will assess various degrees of wind energy
integration and the resulting impacts on UGPR's overall system operations
and transmission constraints.
Work Element 6: WHFS Report
The resulting WHFS report will address the efforts and conclusions of each
work element as well as contain: (1) A comparison of the potential energy
cost or benefits to the customers of Western through the use of combined
wind and hydropower; (2) a description of the economics and engineering/
operational characteristics of the combined wind and hydropower system on
Western's UGPR, including potential reductions of reservoir fluctuation,
enhanced efficient and reliable energy production, and identified Missouri
River management flexibility; (3) recommendations and general criteria for a
project to be carried out by Western in partnership with an Indian tribal
government or tribal energy resource development organization and Western
customers to demonstrate the feasibility and potential of using wind energy
produced on Indian land to supply firming energy to Western; (4) a
discussion of identified economic and environmental cost of, or benefits to
be realized through, a Federal-tribal-customer partnership; and (5) an
identification of the manner in which a Federal-tribal-customer partnership
could contribute to the energy security of the United States.
Study Guidelines
All models and system data will be coordinated with and consistent with
existing Mid-Continent Area Power Pool and Midwest Independent System
Operator models and databases. Wind turbine models will reflect
specifications identified per each tribal energy project.
Availability of Information
The WHFS work plan will be available for inspection and copying at the UGPR
office located at 2900 4th Ave. North, Billings, Montana. This document is
also available for viewing at http://www.wapa.gov/ugp/Power_Marketing/WindHydro/Default.htm.
Work Plan Procedure Requirements
Determination Under Executive Order 12866
Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under Executive
Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the Office of
Management and Budget is required.
Environmental Compliance
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for
implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing
Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), Western is in the process of
determining whether an environmental assessment or an environmental impact
statement should be prepared or if this action can be categorically excluded
from those requirements.
Dated: September 12, 2007.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7-18480 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
Notice of a Draft Study Work Plan.
Citation: "72 FR 53560"
Federal Register Page Number: "53560"
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