[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4791-4797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1693]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
18 CFR Part 35
[Docket No. RM05-4-000]
Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative
Technologies
January 24, 2005.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is
proposing to amend its regulations to require public utilities to
append to the standard large generator interconnection agreement in
their open access transmission tariffs (OATTs) specific technical
requirements for the interconnection of large wind generation.
DATES: Comments are due March 2, 2005. Reply comments will be due 30
days thereafter.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on
the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. Commenters unable to
file comments electronically must send an original and 14 copies of
their comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the
Secretary, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Refer to the
Comment Procedures section of the preamble for additional information
on how to file comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bruce A. Poole (Technical Information), Office of Markets, Tariffs and
Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8468.
G. Patrick Rooney (Technical Information), Office of Markets, Tariffs
and Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-6205.
P. Kumar Agarwal (Technical Information), Office of Markets, Tariffs
and Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8923.
Jeffery S. Dennis (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-6027.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
1. In Order No. 2003,\1\ the Commission adopted standard procedures
for the interconnection of large generation facilities and a standard
large generator interconnection agreement. The Commission required
public utilities that own, control, or operate facilities for
transmitting electric energy in interstate commerce to file revised
Open Access Transmission Tariffs (OATTs) containing these standard
provisions, and use them to provide interconnection service to
generating facilities having a capacity of more than 20 megawatts. In
Order No. 2003-A, on rehearing, the Commission determined that the
standard procedures and agreement were designed around the needs of
traditional synchronous generation facilities, and that generators
relying on non-
[[Page 4792]]
synchronous technologies,\2\ such as wind plants, may find that a
specific requirement is inapplicable or that a different approach is
needed.\3\ Accordingly, the Commission granted certain clarifications,
and also added a blank Appendix G (Requirements of Generators Relying
on Non-Synchronous Technologies) to the standard generator
interconnection agreement as a placeholder for the inclusion of
requirements specific to non-synchronous technologies.\4\ It appears
that the only relevant non-synchronous generator in this rulemaking is
the wind generator, and thus the proposed rule would apply only to wind
plants, although we request comments on whether there are other
technologies that should also be subject to the rule.
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\1\ Standardization of Generator Interconnection Agreements and
Procedures, Order No. 2003, 68 FR 49845 (Aug. 19, 2003), FERC Stats.
& Regs., Regulations Preambles ] 31,146 (2003) (Order No. 2003),
order on reh'g, 69 FR 15932 (Mar. 24, 2004), FERC Stats & Regs.,
Regulations Preambles ] 31,160 (2004) (Order No. 2003-A), order on
reh'g, 70 FR 265 (January 4, 2005), FERC Stats & Regs., Regulations
Preambles ] 31,171 (2004) (Order No. 2003-B), reh'g pending; see
also Notice Clarifying Compliance Procedures, 106 FERC ] 61,009
(2004).
\2\ A wind generator is considered non-synchronous because it
does not run at the same speed as a traditional generator. A non-
synchronous generator possesses significantly different
characteristics and responds differently to network disturbances.
\3\ Order No. 2003-A at P 407, n. 86.
\4\ Id.
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2. In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), the Commission is
proposing standards applicable to the interconnection of large wind
generating plants,\5\ to be included in Appendix G of the Large
Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA). The Commission proposes
these standards in light of its findings in Order No. 2003-A, noted
above, and in response to a petition submitted by the American Wind
Energy Association (AWEA) on May 20, 2004. Specifically, and as
described more fully below, we propose to include in Appendix G to the
LGIA certain technical requirements that Transmission Providers must
apply to interconnection service for wind generation plants that are
different from that required of traditional synchronous generating
plants or are now needed because of the increased presence of larger
aggregated wind plants on the Transmission Provider's systems. These
requirements would be applied in addition to the standard
interconnection procedures and requirements adopted by the Commission
in Order No. 2003. Additionally, the Commission seeks comments on
certain issues, including whether there are other non-synchronous
technologies, or other technologies in addition to wind, that should
also be covered by the proposed Appendix G.
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\5\ Large wind generating plants are those with an output rated
at 20 MW or higher at the point of interconnection.
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Background
3. In Order No. 2003, pursuant to its responsibility under sections
205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \6\ to remedy undue
discrimination, the Commission required all public utilities that own,
control, or operate facilities for transmitting electric energy in
interstate commerce to append to their OATTs the pro forma Large
Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP) and pro forma LGIA. To
achieve greater standardization of interconnection terms and
conditions, Order No. 2003 required such public utilities to file
revised OATTs containing the pro forma LGIP and LGIA included in Order
No. 2003.
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\6\ 16 U.S.C. 824d-e (2000).
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4. Order Nos. 2003-A and 2003-B, issued on rehearing, made certain
revisions to the pro forma LGIP and LGIA. In Order No. 2003-A, the
Commission clarified that certain provisions of the LGIP and LGIA are
not appropriately applied to wind generators. The Commission stated
that it ``recognize[d] that the LGIA and LGIP are designed around the
needs of large synchronous generators and that many generators relying
on newer technologies may find that either a specific requirement is
inapplicable or that it calls for a slightly different approach.'' \7\
In light of this recognition, the Commission clarified that LGIA
article 5.4 (Power System Stabilizers), LGIA article 5.10.3
(Interconnection Customer's Interconnection Facilities Construction)
and LGIA article 9.6.1 (Power Factor Design Criteria) would not be
applied to wind generators.\8\ Additionally, the Commission noted that
``there may be other areas of the LGIP and LGIA that may call for a
slightly different approach for a generator relying on newer technology
because it may have unique electrical characteristics.'' \9\ As a
result, the Commission added to the LGIA a blank new Appendix G as a
placeholder for requirements specific to newer technologies to be
developed at a future time.\10\
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\7\ Order No. 2003-A at P 407, n. 85.
\8\ Id. at P 278, 407, n. 85.
\9\ Id. at P 407, n. 85.
\10\ The Appendix G that was added to the LGIA in Order No.
2003-A and that we propose in this NOPR should not be confused with
the Appendix G that the Commission originally proposed to include in
the LGIA, which concerned Interconnection Guidelines. The Commission
did not include that Appendix in the Final Rule LGIA, since its
provisions were covered elsewhere in the LGIP and LGIA. See Order
No. 2003 at P 673. In Order No. 2003-A, the Commission used the
Appendix G label for the requirements specific to wind generation
and perhaps other non-synchronous technologies that we propose in
this rulemaking.
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5. On May 20, 2004, in Docket No. RM02-1-005, AWEA submitted a
petition for rulemaking or, in the alternative, request for
clarification of Order No. 2003-A, and a request for a technical
conference. AWEA asked the Commission to adopt in Appendix G certain
standards for the interconnection of wind generation plants.
Specifically, AWEA submitted a proposed Appendix G that it argues
addresses the concerns of both Transmission Providers and the wind
generation industry. AWEA's proposed Appendix G included a low voltage
ride-through capability standard, which would allow the Transmission
Provider to require as a condition of interconnection that wind
generation facilities have the ability to continue operating or ``ride-
through'' certain low voltage conditions on the transmission system to
which they are interconnected. Additionally, AWEA proposed that the
power factor design criteria of up to 0.95 leading/lagging be applied
to wind generation plants, with certain flexibility regarding whether
the location of the reactive support equipment would be at the common
point of interconnection of all the generators in the plant rather than
at the individual turbine. Further, AWEA proposed that we require
Transmission Providers and wind generator manufacturers to participate
in a formal process to develop, update, and improve the engineering
models and specifications used in modeling wind plant interconnections.
Finally, AWEA proposed to include language in Appendix G allowing the
wind Interconnection Customer to ``self-study'' interconnection
feasibility by entering the interconnection queue without providing
certain power and load flow data, receiving certain information from
the Transmission Provider, and conducting its own Feasibility Study.
6. On September 24, 2004, the Commission held a Technical
Conference to discuss the issues raised by AWEA's petition. The goal
was to discuss the technical requirements for the interconnection of
wind plants and other alternative technologies and the need for
specific requirements for their interconnection. Additionally, the
Technical Conference considered how wind and other alternative
generator technologies may respond differently to transmission grid
disturbances and have different effects on the transmission grid. The
Commission also solicited and
[[Page 4793]]
received post-Technical Conference comments from interested persons.
Discussion
7. Based on our review and consideration of AWEA's petition and the
comments received at and after the Technical Conference, the Commission
is proposing certain technical requirements for the interconnection of
wind generating plants. The Commission proposes to include these
technical requirements as Appendix G to the LGIA, as contemplated in
Order No. 2003-A. The technical requirements we propose here are
similar in certain respects and differ in other respects from the
Appendix G proposed by AWEA in its petition for rulemaking. The
Commission is also seeking comments on certain issues, as discussed
below. Our goal is to adopt final technical requirements for the
interconnection of wind plants (and other alternative technologies, if
any) that recognize the special characteristics of wind plants, their
larger size and increased penetration on the transmission system (in
terms of the wind generating capacity's percentage contribution to
total system generating capacity), and the effects they have on the
transmission system. This proposal seeks to accommodate wind plants
while ensuring the continued reliability of the nation's electric
transmission system.
8. The Appendix G technical requirements for the interconnection of
wind generation plants that we propose in this NOPR are not intended to
be the sole interconnection requirements for wind plants. Such plants
will still be subject to the other standard interconnection procedures
and requirements adopted by the Commission in Order No. 2003, unless
wind plants have been otherwise exempted from such procedures and
requirements.
9. Recently, the Commission became aware of the Alberta Electric
System Operator's adoption of technical standards for the
interconnection of wind generation plants to its transmission
system.\11\ The standards adopted by the AESO are similar to, but more
comprehensive than, the standards we propose in the Appendix G in this
NOPR.
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\11\ Those standards, titled Wind Power Facility Technical
Requirements, are at http://www.aeso.com.
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10. The Commission is not proposing a transition period before the
technical requirements in Appendix G would take effect. At the
Technical Conference, however, several participants noted that wind
turbine manufacturers have turbines in their inventory that do not have
low voltage ride-through capability or adequate reactive power
capability. Some participants argued that a transition period would be
appropriate to accommodate this inventory. This proposal is designed in
part to allow the Transmission Provider to assure transmission grid
safety and reliability. For this reason, deviations should not be
permitted unless approved by the Transmission Provider on a comparable
basis. The proposal grants the Transmission Provider the flexibility to
relax certain requirements if not needed for safety and reliability, as
explained in more detail below.
Low Voltage Ride-Through Standard
11. Prior to the advent of larger wind plants generally consisting
of multiple wind generation turbines, individual wind turbines were
designed to go offline if there was a sudden change in voltage on the
transmission system. However, now there are larger aggregated wind
plants with a greater penetration level on the Transmission Provider's
systems in certain areas, and significant stability problems can occur
on the transmission system if such large plants become unavailable
during a low voltage excursion. As a result, Transmission Providers
need large wind plants to remain online during low-voltage occurrences
for reliability reasons.
12. The Commission is proposing to require that large wind plants
seeking to interconnect to the grid demonstrate low voltage ride-
through capability, unless waived by the Transmission Provider on a
comparable and not unduly discriminatory basis. Specifically, Appendix
G would require that ``wind generating plants * * * demonstrate the
ability to remain on-line during voltage disturbances up to the time
periods and associated voltage levels set forth in Figure 1'' of the
Appendix. The required voltage levels would be measured at the high
voltage side of the substation transformers.\12\
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\12\ While low voltage ride-through capability is needed for
wind plants, it is not a concern for large synchronous generating
facilities because most of these facilities are equipped with
automatic voltage control devices to increase output during low
voltage excursions.
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13. The Commission seeks comments on this proposed standard.
Particularly, the Commission is interested in comments addressing
whether it should adopt a low voltage ride-through standard at all,
whether this or another standard is more appropriate, and whether this
proposed standard is specific enough. Additionally, the Commission
seeks comment on whether the voltage-time profile of the proposed
Appendix G is appropriate or should be modified.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Capability
14. Previously, Transmission Providers generally did not require
wind generators to have remote supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) capability because of their small size and minimal effects on
the transmission system. Now that there are more large wind plants,
Transmission Providers may need SCADA capability to ensure the safety
and reliability of the transmission system during normal, system
emergency, and system contingency conditions, and to acquire wind
facility operating data.
15. The Commission proposes to require that large wind plants
seeking to interconnect to the transmission grid possess SCADA
capability. The proposed Appendix G would require that the wind plant
install SCADA capability to transmit data and receive instructions from
the Transmission Provider. Additionally, the proposed Appendix G states
that the Transmission Provider and wind plant owner shall determine the
SCADA information that is essential for the proposed wind plant, taking
into account the size of the plant, its characteristics, location, and
importance in maintaining generation resource adequacy and transmission
system reliability in its area.\13\
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\13\ Unlike synchronous generating plants, which generally
possess SCADA capability, can respond to automatic generation
control signals from the control center and are often staffed, wind
generating plants are often remote, unmanned, and characterized by
an unpredictable rate of change of output, thus making it difficult
for the Transmission Provider to limit the output of the wind plant
when necessary for system reliability.
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16. The Commission seeks comments regarding the SCADA capability
requirements proposed in this NOPR. Particularly, the Commission seeks
comments on whether there is any basic essential SCADA information that
large wind plants should be required to provide, and if so, what that
information should be (such as information needed to determine how the
plant's maximum megawatt output and megawatt ramp rate vary over time
with changes in the wind speed, and/or information needed to forecast
the megawatt output of the plant).
Power Factor Design Criteria (Reactive Power)
17. Previously, Transmission Providers did not require wind
generators to have the capability to
[[Page 4794]]
provide reactive power because the facilities were generally small and
had minimal impact on the transmission grid. Because of the larger size
of many of the wind plants currently operating and the increased
penetration of wind energy on the transmission system, Transmission
Providers may need to require wind plants to operate within a specified
power factor range to help balance the reactive power needs of the
transmission system.
18. The Commission is proposing to require that wind plants
maintain a power factor within the range of 0.95 leading to 0.95
lagging (as required by Order No. 2003), to be measured at the high
voltage side of the substation transformer. The proposed Appendix G
permits wind plants flexibility in how they meet the power factor
requirement (for example, using either power electronics designed to
supply this level of reactive capability or fixed and switched
capacitors if agreed to by the Transmission Provider, or a combination
of the two.) Additionally, the Commission proposes to allow the
Transmission Provider to waive the power factor requirement for wind
plants where such capability is not needed at that location or for a
generating facility of that size, provided that such waiver is not
unduly discriminatory and is offered on a comparable basis to similarly
situated wind plants. Should the power factor requirement be waived,
however, the interconnection agreement would be considered a non-
conforming agreement under section 11.3 of the LGIP, requiring that it
be filed with the Commission. The Commission believes that it is
appropriate to permit the Transmission Provider to waive the power
factor requirement for a wind plant if the Transmission Provider does
not need reactive power for reliability at that plant's location
because, unlike a non-wind generator which always has some reactive
power capability, a wind plant must incur an additional capital cost to
provide this reactive power. Finally, we propose to require that wind
plants have the capability to provide sufficient dynamic voltage
support in order to interconnect to the transmission system, instead of
the power system stabilizer and automatic voltage support at the
generator excitation system, if the System Impact Study shows that such
dynamic capability is necessary for system reliability.
19. The Commission seeks comments regarding whether the proposed
power factor range proposed should be increased or decreased for wind
generation plants. Also, the Commission seeks input as to whether any
dynamic (i.e., controllable) reactive capability should be required of
wind plants as a condition of interconnection, and if so, what level of
dynamic capability should be required. Further, the Commission seeks
comments on the proposed waiver provisions for the power factor
requirement discussed above.
Models and Self-Study of Feasibility
20. In its petition, AWEA proposed that certain variations in the
Interconnection Study process be applied to the interconnection of wind
plants. Specifically, AWEA proposed that Transmission Providers be
required to ``participate in a formal process for updating, improving,
and validating the engineering models used for modeling the
interconnection impacts of wind turbines.'' \14\ Additionally, AWEA
proposed that wind Interconnection Customers be permitted to enter the
interconnection queue and ``self-study'' the feasibility of
interconnection after submitting an Interconnection Request that does
not include power and load flow data and paying the applicable deposit.
These wind Interconnection Customers should be entitled to have the
scoping meeting with the Transmission Provider and receive from the
Transmission Provider the base case data, according to AWEA. Following
its self-study, the wind Interconnection Customer would submit an
electrical design and turbine models sufficient to allow the
Transmission Provider to conduct a System Impact Study under AWEA's
proposal. AWEA stated that these provisions were necessary because
requiring power system and load flow data to be submitted with the
Interconnection Request is impractical for wind plants, since the
turbine selection and electrical design of the wind plant may be based
on the outcome of the Feasibility Study and grid conditions at the
point of interconnection.
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\14\ AWEA Proposed Appendix G at 5.
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21. The Commission is not proposing these provisions for several
reasons. With regard to the proposal to require Transmission Providers
to participate in a formal process to update and improve wind turbine
modeling, we believe that such a formal process should take place
outside the Commission, through industry technical groups or perhaps
through the regional reliability councils. The Commission recognizes,
however, that improvements in the way that wind interconnections are
modeled would be beneficial, and we encourage the industry to address
this issue.
22. With regard to AWEA's self-study proposal, Order No. 2003
currently requires that a valid and complete Interconnection Request be
on file with the Transmission Provider before the Interconnection
Customer may receive Base Case data.\15\ Section 2.3 did not address
situations where the Interconnection Customer might need access to the
Base Case data before it could complete its Interconnection Request.
Therefore we seek comments on how to balance the need of wind
generators to self-study prior to filing a completed Interconnection
Request with the need to protect this critical energy infrastructure
information and commercially sensitive data against unwarranted
disclosure.
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\15\ See LGIP, section 2.3; see also Order No. 2003 at P 77-84.
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23. Additionally, in Order No. 2003 the Commission addressed
requests that additional time be provided after the Interconnection
Request is made to submit final design specifications.\16\ There, we
stated that ``[t]he Interconnection Customer should have its design
substantially completed prior to submitting its Interconnection Request
so that it does not block or disrupt the queue process.'' \17\ We also
noted that Transmission Providers would not be able to act on an
incomplete Interconnection Request, and that giving ``one class of
Interconnection Customers extra time to submit design specifications
would be unfair to other Interconnection Customers in the queue.'' \18\
The Commission is not persuaded to propose deviations from these
conclusions in this rulemaking.
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\16\ See Order No. 2003 at P 99.
\17\ Id. at P 103.
\18\ Id.
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Other Generating Technologies
24. The Commission seeks comments regarding whether there are other
generating technologies that should be required to comply with the
specific technical requirements included in Appendix G.
Variations From Appendix G
25. The Commission is proposing to permit Transmission Providers to
justify variations from the terms of the final Appendix G using the
approach taken in Order No. 2003. In Order No. 2003, the Commission
modified the approach taken in Order No. 888,\19\ which
[[Page 4795]]
allowed two types of variations. First, public utilities may seek
variations to the LGIP and LGIA based on regional reliability
requirements.\20\ Second, public utilities may argue that proposed
changes to any OATT provision are ``consistent with or superior to''
the terms of the pro forma OATT.\21\ Additionally, Order No. 2003
allows RTOs and ISOs greater flexibility in complying with its
provisions. They may seek an ``independent entity variation'' from the
pricing and non-pricing provisions of the pro forma LGIP and LGIA.\22\
The Commission intends to apply all three of these variation standards
to proposed variations from the Appendix G the Commission finally
adopts in this proceeding.
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\19\ Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-
Discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities; Recovery
of Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities,
Order No. 888, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,036 (1996) at 31,760-61
(Order No. 888), order on reh'g, Order No. 888-A, FERC Stats. &
Regs. ] 31,048 (1997), order on reh'g, Order No. 888-B, 81 FERC ]
61,248 (1997), order on reh'g, Order No. 888-C, 82 FERC ] 61,046
(1997), aff'd in relevant part sub nom. Transmission Access Policy
Study Group v. FERC, 225 F.3d 667 (D.C. Cir. 2000), aff'd sub nom.
New York v. FERC, 535 U.S. 1 (2002).
\20\ See Order No. 2003 at P 823-24.
\21\ See id. at P 816.
\22\ Id. at P 822-827; see also Order No. 2003-A at P 48.
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Information Collection Statement
26. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations require OMB
to approve certain information collection requirements imposed by
agency rule.\23\ Comments are solicited on the Commission's need for
this information, whether the information will have practical utility,
the accuracy of provided burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected, and any
suggested methods for minimizing respondents' burden, including the use
of automated information techniques.
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\23\ 5 CFR 1320.11 (2004).
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27. Public Reporting Burden:
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Number of Number of Hours per Total annual
Data collection respondents responses response hours
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FERC-516.................................... 238 1 18 4,284
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Information Collection Costs: The Commission seeks comments on the
costs to comply with these requirements. It has projected the
annualized cost for all respondents to be: Annualized Capital/Startup
Costs-Staffing requirements to review and prepare an interconnection
agreement = $642,600. (238 respondents x $150 hourly rate x 18 hours
per respondent.)
The OMB regulations require OMB to approve certain information
collection requirements imposed by agency rule.\24\ Accordingly,
pursuant to OMB regulations, the Commission is providing notice of its
proposed information collections to OMB.
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\24\ Id.
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Title: FERC-516, Electric Rate Schedule Filings.
Action: Proposed Information Collection.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0096.
The applicant shall not be penalized for failure to respond to this
collection of information unless the collection of information displays
a valid OMB control number.
Respondents: Business or other for profit.
Frequency of Responses: One-time implementation.
Necessity of Information: The proposed rule would revise the
requirements contained in 18 CFR part 35. The Commission is seeking to
revise its standardized interconnection procedures and agreements to
include wind generation plants. In particular, the Commission will
propose that public utilities add to their standard interconnection
agreements the technical requirements for the interconnection of wind
generation plants. The proposed rule would require that each public
utility that owns, operates, or controls transmission facilities
participate in one-time filings incorporating the technical
requirements into their own open access transmission tariffs. Internal
Review: the Commission has assured itself, by means of internal review,
that there is specific, objective support for the burden estimates
associated with the information collection requirements. The
Commission's Office of Market, Tariffs and Rates will use the data
included in filings under Section 203 and 205 of the Federal Power to
evaluate efforts for interconnection and coordination of the U.S.
electric transmission as well as for general industry oversight. These
information requirements conform to the Commission's plan for efficient
information collection, communication, and management within the
electric power industry. Interested persons may obtain information on
the reporting requirements by contacting: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, Attention:
Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, phone: (202) 502-
8415, fax: (202) 273-0873, e-mail: [email protected]. Comments on
the proposed requirements of the subject rule may also be sent to the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, phone: (202) 395-4650.
Environmental Analysis
28. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may
have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.\25\ The
Commission has categorically excluded certain actions from this
requirement as not having a significant effect on the human
environment. Included in the exclusion are rules that are clarifying,
corrective, or procedural, or that do not substantially change the
effect of the regulations being amended.\26\ The exclusion also
includes information gathering, analysis, and dissemination.\27\ The
rules proposed in this NOPR would update and clarify the application of
the Commission's standard interconnection requirements to wind
generation plants. Further, this NOPR involves information gathering,
analysis, and dissemination regarding the interconnection of wind
generators. Therefore, this NOPR falls within the categorical
exemptions provided in the Commission's Regulations, and as a result
neither an environmental impact statement nor an environmental
assessment is required. Additionally, we note that this proposed rule
will help the development and interconnection of wind plants,
eliminating the airborne and other emissions that would result from
constructing fossil fuel generating plants instead.
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\25\ Order No. 486, Regulations Implementing the National
Environmental Policy Act, 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. &
Regs. Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (Dec. 10, 1987).
\26\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2004).
\27\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(5) (2004).
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Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
29. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \28\ generally
requires a description and analysis of final rules
[[Page 4796]]
that will have significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities.\29\ The Commission is not required to make such
analyses if a rule would not have such an effect.
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\28\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612 (2000).
\29\ The RFA definition of ``small entity'' refers to the
definition provided in the Small Business Act, which defines a
``small business concern'' as a business that is independently owned
and operated and that is not dominant in its field of operation. 15
U.S.C. 632 (2000). The Small Business Size Standards component of
the North American Industry Classification System defines a small
electric utility as one that, including its affiliates, is primarily
engaged in the generation, transmission, and/or distribution of
electric energy for sale and whose total electric output for the
preceding fiscal years did not exceed 4 million MWh. 13 CFR 121.201
(Section 22, Utilities, North American Industry Classification
System, NAICS) (2004)).
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30. The Commission does not believe that this proposed rule would
have such an impact on small entities. Most filing companies subject to
the Commission's jurisdiction do not fall within the RFA's definition
of a small entity. Further, the filing requirements contain standard
generator interconnection procedures and agreement for interconnecting
generators larger than 20 MW, which exceeds the threshold of the Small
Business Size Standard of NAICS. Therefore, the Commission certifies
that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
Comment Procedures
31. The Commission invites comments on the matters and proposals in
this notice, including any related matters or alternative proposals
that commenters may wish to discuss. Comments are due March 2, 2005.
Reply comments will be due 30 days thereafter. Comments must refer to
Docket No. RM05-4-000, and must include the commenters' name, the
organization represented, if applicable, and address.
32. Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on
the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. The Commission
accepts most standard word processing formats and commenters may attach
additional files with supporting information in certain other file
formats. Commenters filing electronically do not need to make a paper
filing. Commenters that are not able to file comments electronically
must send an original and 14 copies of their comments to Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
33. All comments will be placed in the Commission's public files
and may be viewed, printed, or downloaded remotely as described in the
Document Availability section below. Commenters on this proposal are
not required to serve copies of their comments on other commenters.
Document Availability
34. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the
Internet through FERC's home page (http://www.ferc.gov) and in FERC's
Public Reference Room during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
eastern time) at 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
35. From FERC's home page on the Internet, this information is
available in the Commission's document management system, eLibrary. The
full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and
Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To
access this document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the
last three digits of this document in the docket number field.
36. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC's Web
site during normal business hours. For assistance, please contact FERC
Online Support at 1-866-208-3676 (toll free) or 202-502-6652 (e-mail at
[email protected]), or the Public Reference Room at 202-502-
8371, TTY 202-502-8659 (e-mail at [email protected]).
List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 35
Electric power rates, Electric utilities.
By direction of the Commission.
Linda Mitry,
Deputy Secretary.
In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission proposes to
revise part 35, Chapter I, Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations,
as follows.
PART 35--FILING OF RATE SCHEDULES
1. The authority citation for part 35 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r, 2601-2645; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42
U.S.C. 7101-7352.
2. In Sec. 35.28, paragraph (f)(1) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 35.28 Non-discriminatory open access transmission tariff.
* * * * *
(f) Standard generator interconnection procedures and agreements.
(1) Every public utility that is required to have on file a non-
discriminatory open access transmission tariff under this section must
amend such tariff by adding the standard interconnection procedures and
agreement contained in Order No. 2003, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,146
(Final Rule on Generator Interconnection), as amended by the Commission
in Order No. ----, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] ---- (Final Rule on
Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative Technologies), or
such other interconnection procedures and agreement as may be approved
by the Commission consistent with the Final Rule on Generator
Interconnection.
(i) The amendment to implement the Final Rule on Generator
Interconnection required by the preceding subsection must be filed no
later than January 20, 2004.
(ii) The amendment to implement the Final Rule on Interconnection
for Wind Energy and other Alternative Technologies required by the
preceding subsection must be filed no later than [60 days after
publication of final rule].
(iii) Any public utility that seeks a deviation from the standard
interconnection procedures and agreement contained in Order No. 2003,
FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,146 (Final Rule on Generator Interconnection),
as amended by the Commission in Order No. ----, FERC Stats. & Regs. ]
---- (Final Rule on Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other
Alternative Technologies), must demonstrate that the deviation is
consistent with the principles of the Final Rule on Generator
Interconnection.
* * * * *
[Note: The attachments will not be published in the Code of Federal
Regulations]
Appendix G--Interconnection Requirements for Wind Generators
Appendix G sets forth additional requirements and provisions
specific to wind generating plants.
A. Standards Applicable to Wind Generators
i. Low Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) Standard
Wind generating plants shall demonstrate the ability to remain
online during voltage disturbances up to the time periods and
associated voltage levels set forth in Figure 1, below. The
requirements apply to voltage measured at the high voltage side of
the wind plant substation transformer(s). The figure shows the ratio
of actual to nominal voltage (on the vertical axis) over time (on
the horizontal axis). Before time 0.0, the voltage at the
transformer is the nominal voltage. At time 0.0, the voltage drops.
If the voltage remains at a level greater than 15 percent of the
nominal voltage for a period that does not exceed 0.625 seconds, the
plant must stay online. Further, if the voltage returns to 90
percent of the nominal voltage within 3 seconds of the beginning of
the voltage drop
[[Page 4797]]
(with the voltage at any given time never falling below the minimum
voltage indicated by the solid line in Figure 1), the plant must
stay online. The Interconnection Customer may not disable low
voltage ride-through equipment while the wind plant is in operation.
Two key features of this proposed regulation are:
1. A wind generating plant must have LVRT capability down to 15
percent of the rated line voltage for 0.625 seconds;
2. A wind generating plant must be able to operate continuously
at 90 percent of the rated line voltage, measured at the high
voltage side of the wind plant substation transformer(s).
The wind generating plant may ask the Transmission Provider for
a variation of the parameters of this regulation, and the
Transmission Provider may agree to such a variation provided it does
so on a comparable and not unduly discriminatory basis among wind
generators. The Transmission Provider may waive the low voltage
ride-through requirement on a comparable and not unduly
discriminatory basis for all wind plants.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP31JA05.006
ii. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Capability
The wind plant shall provide SCADA capability to transmit data
and receive instructions from the Transmission Provider. The
Transmission Provider and the wind plant Interconnection Customer
shall determine what SCADA information is essential for the proposed
wind plant, taking into account the size of the plant, its
characteristics, location, and importance in maintaining generation
resource adequacy and transmission system reliability in its area.
iii. Power Factor Design Criteria (Reactive Power)
A wind plant shall maintain a power factor within the range of
0.95 leading to 0.95 lagging, measured at the high voltage side of
the wind plant substation transformer(s). The power factor range
requirement can be met by using, for example, power electronics
designed to supply this level of reactive capability (taking into
account any limitations due to voltage level, real power output,
etc.) or fixed and switched capacitors if agreed to by the
Transmission Provider, or a combination of the two. The
Interconnection Customer shall not disable power factor equipment
while the wind plant is in operation. Wind plants shall also be able
to provide sufficient dynamic voltage support in lieu of the power
system stabilizer and automatic voltage regulation at the generator
excitation system if the Interconnection System Impact Study shows
this to be required for system reliability.
The Transmission Provider may agree to waive or defer compliance
with the reactive power standard. However, any such waiver or
exemption must be considered a non-conforming agreement pursuant to
section 11.3 of the LGIP.
[FR Doc. 05-1693 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P