Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative unveils second transmission plan

17 August 2009

The Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative has made a report available looking into a conceptual transmission plan that evaluates the usefulness of potential transmission lines in accessing and delivering renewable energy across California, US.

The Phase 2A report is intended to help enable development and approval of renewable energy infrastructure, while minimising the economic cost, environmental impacts, and number of new transmission facilities.

The California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, and California Independent System Operator formed RETI, and were thereafter joined by Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the Northern California Power Agency, and the Southern California Public Power Authority. RETI acts as a public-private partnership to consider the feasibility of building new transmission lines to access renewable generation from various areas of the state or possibly adjoining states and bring the power to population centers.

The first phase of RETI identified areas of the state and adjoining regions that have high densities of biomass, geothermal, solar, and wind resources. RETI Phase 2 work expanded the evaluation and re-ranking of these areas and focused on the development of a statewide conceptual transmission expansion plan.

The conceptual transmission plan is designed to meet the goal of obtaining 33 per cent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources by 2020.

‘Transmission planning will go hand in hand with the implementation of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan,’ said commissioner Jeffrey Byron, presiding member of the Energy Commission’s power plant siting committee. ‘The plan, as required by the Governor’s executive order streamlining permitting and environmental review of renewable projects, will coordinate renewable generation and transmission development, while conserving precious habitat.’

The report will be used by state and local agencies as well as utilities and members of the public in developing detailed transmission plans.

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Tags: energy efficiency, energy storage

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