[Federal Register: September 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 173)]
[Notices]
[Page 52784-52785]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se06-37]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. EA-309]
Amended Application To Export Electric Energy; Evergreen Wind
Power, LLC
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of Amended Application.
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SUMMARY: Evergreen Wind Power, LLC (Evergreen) has submitted
supplementary information and a clarification to its application filed
with the Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization to transmit
electric energy from the United States to Canada pursuant to section
202(e) of the Federal Power Act. Evergreen has clarified its
application to request that DOE grant its export authorization without
the annual energy limit presently associated with the international
transmission lines owned by Maine Public Service Company (MPS) that
Evergreen proposes to use for the export. Evergreen also has submitted
technical information demonstrating that the power transfer limit
associated with these transmission lines is actually higher than that
previously authorized by DOE and requests its authorization be granted
at the higher limit. DOE hereby gives notice that, based on the
submitted information, it plans to remove the annual energy limit on
the MPS lines and allow the higher transfer rates for all exports over
those lines.
DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted
on or before September 22, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be
addressed as follows: Office Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability (Mail Code OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-586-5860).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9506 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C.
824a(e)).
On March 20, 2006, the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability (OE) of DOE received an application from Evergreen to
transmit electric energy from the U.S. to Canada. Notice of the
application appeared in the Federal Register on April 18, 2006 (71 FR
19880) requesting any comments, protests, or petitions to intervene.
None were received. Evergreen supplemented its application in filings
received by DOE on July 31, 2006, regarding the higher power transfer
limit, and on August 21, 2006, regarding the removal of the annual
energy limit.
Evergreen is proposing to construct a 49.5-megawatt (MW) wind
generation facility, the Mars Hill Project, in Aroostook, Maine, and
will sell the electrical output of the facility within the U.S. and/or
to customers in Canada. The electric energy to be exported to Canada
would be transmitted over the international transmission facilities
owned by MPS and authorized by Presidential Permits PP-12 and PP-29.
Exports over the PP-12 and PP-29 facilities are presently limited
to a total of 40,000 MWh per year with a power transfer limit of 40.8
MW. Evergreen has submitted technical information which demonstrates
that the power transfer limit for the combination of the PP-12 and PP-
29 facilities is now 97.8 MW, not the 40.8 MW previously authorized.
Evergreen also asserts that if it were subject to the existing 40,000-
MWh annual energy limit it would severely hinder its ability to
maximize the output of the Mars Hill Project.
DOE proposes to issue an export authorization to Evergreen at the
98.7-MW power transfer limit and without the annual energy limits. DOE
notes that it has previously authorized numerous entities to export
over the PP-12 and PP-29 facilities and that each of those
authorizations contained the 40,000-MWh energy limit and the 40.8-MW
power transfer limit. DOE further proposes that all entities previously
authorized by DOE to export over the PP-12 and PP-29 facilities would
be permitted to export at the higher power transfer limit with no
annual energy limit.
Evergreen has also requested DOE expedite the processing of its
application in order that Evergreen may complete certain scheduled
financing transactions. Accordingly, DOE has shortened the public
comment period to 15 days.
Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to this
proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to this
application
[[Page 52785]]
should file a petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address
provided above in accordance with Sec. Sec. 385.211 or 385.214 of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedures
(18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each petition and protest
should be filed with DOE on or before the date listed above.
Comments on the Evergreen application to export electric energy to
Canada should be clearly marked with Docket EA-309. Additional copies
are to be filed directly with Peter Gish, General Counsel, Evergreen
Wind Power, LLC, 100 Wells Avenue, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02459, and
David L. Schwartz, Natasha Gianvecchio, Sue Wang, Latham & Watkins LLP,
555 Eleventh Street, NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004.
A final decision will be made on this application after the
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and a determination is made by DOE
that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the reliability
of the U.S. electric power supply system.
Copies of this application will be made available, upon request,
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by
emailing Odessa Hopkins at Odessa.hopkins@hq.doe.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E6-14803 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P