[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 22770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10110]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Electric Transmission Congestion Study
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE),
Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of 2009 National Electric Transmission
Congestion Study and Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the ``Department'') gives notice
that it has issued a National Electric Transmission Congestion Study
(2009 Congestion Study) and is seeking comments on all aspects of the
study. The full text of the 2009 Congestion Study is available at
http://www.oe.energy.gov.
DATES: Written comments may be filed electronically in MS Word and PDF
formats. Comments regarding the 2009 Congestion Study should be emailed
to [email protected]. Comments should be received no later than 5
p.m. EDT June 29, 2010. Also, comments can be filed by mail at the
address listed below.
ADDRESSES: Written comments via mail should be submitted to: Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, Attention: 1221
Comments, U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6H050,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
Note: Delivery of U.S. Postal Service mail sent to the
Department continues to be delayed by several weeks due to security
screening procedures. Electronic submission of comments is therefore
encouraged. Copies of written comments received and other relevant
documents and information may be reviewed at http://www.congestion09.anl.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Meyer, Office Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-10, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-1411,
[email protected], or Lot Cooke, Office of General Counsel, GC-76,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-0503,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1221(a) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (EPAct) directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct periodic
nationwide studies of electric transmission congestion. The initial
study was to be completed within one year of enactment of the EPAct
with subsequent studies every three years thereafter. The American
Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) further directed
the Secretary to include in the 2009 Congestion Study an analysis of
significant potential sources of renewable energy that are constrained
by lack of adequate transmission capacity. Based on the Congestion
Study, and comments concerning it from states and other stakeholders,
the Secretary of Energy may designate any geographic area experiencing
electric transmission capacity constraints or congestion as a national
interest electric transmission corridor (National Corridor).
In August 2006, the Department published its first National
Electric Transmission Congestion Study.\1\ In 2007, based in part on
the findings of that study and after considering the comments of
stakeholders, the Secretary designated two National Corridors, one in
the Mid-Atlantic area and one covering portions of southern California
and western Arizona, reflecting the high impacts of transmission
congestion in each area.\2\
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\1\ See 71 FR 45047 (August 6, 2006).
\2\ See 72 FR 56992 (October 5, 2007).
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The 2009 Congestion Study has been completed and issued by the
Department. The study is available for review at the website listed
above. Based on the study, the Department found three classes of
congestion areas that merit further federal attention: Critical
Congestion Areas, Congestion Areas of Concern, and a Conditional
Constrained Area.
The Department stated when it announced the beginning of its work
on the 2009 Congestion Study that the study would focus on the
identification of existing electric transmission-level congestion based
on publicly available historic information and data related to
transmission congestion. The information and data used by DOE in
conducting the analysis in the 2009 Congestion Study was that which was
available through May 2009. As a result the study does not address the
possible impacts of the recent recession on congestion, or any other
recent events, reports, or other developments affecting congestion.
The Department is seeking comments from interested persons on the
2009 Congestion Study, and on future steps for identifying and
addressing electric transmission congestion, including the possible
designation of National Corridors. Commenters may address any aspect of
this study they consider appropriate. The Department intends to update,
or issue an addendum to, this study in which it may consider the effect
of the recession on congestion identified in the study, comments
received on this version of the study, and the implications of
additional data or information that has become available since May
2009. The Department invites commenters to direct it to data,
publications, or other information that they believe relevant to this
additional analysis.
Issued in Washington, DC, on April 26, 2010.
Patricia A. Hoffman,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2010-10110 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
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