Transmission Agency of Northern California Transmission Project Will Improve Reliability and Provide Needed Access to In-State Renewable Power

Feb 02, 2009 - BUSINESS WIRE

The Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) announced today that it has completed a year-long collaborative effort to examine the regional transmission impacts of its planned TANC Transmission Project (TTP). The final analysis of the Sub-Regional Planning Group (SRPG) concluded that the addition of the TTP would benefit the reliability of the Northern California transmission grid and could allow for the integration of at least 1600 MW of new renewable generation. The results of the study are documented in the "TANC Transmission Program WECC Regional Planning Report" (January 21, 2009). The TTP represents roughly 600 miles of new and upgraded high-voltage transmission facilities. The SRPG was formed for this effort and included approximately 40 participants representing neighboring utilities, generation developers, and government agencies throughout the western United States. The SRPG effort adhered to the regional planning requirements of the Western Electricity Coordination Council (WECC) and the Order 890 requirements of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The completion of this effort represents a major milestone for the TTP and transitions TANC into the start of the environmental analysis and permitting process. During the environmental process, TANC will be working closely with the Western Area Power Administration (Western). TANC will be the lead for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) efforts, and Western will lead the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) efforts.

"We are pleased to see that the Sub-Regional Planning Group confirms the significant benefits that the TTP will have for the State of California," noted TANC Chairman Allen Short. "As a result of completing the Sub-Regional Planning Group's efforts, TANC now moves forward with planning and routing the TTP with the confidence that the infrastructure enhances the reliability and power delivery capability of the Northern California transmission grid." James W. Beck, General Manager of TANC, added, "The California Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative's (RETI) recently published "Phase 1B Report" identified Lassen County, one planned terminus of the TTP, as a major Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) with abundant wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass resources. TANC strongly agrees with the RETI assessment that Lassen County represents the only significant CREZ identified by this crucial state process in Northern California. We look forward to working with our fellow agencies and the broader public to develop and construct this necessary piece of infrastructure."

Tom Boyko, Sierra Nevada Regional Manager of Western, noted that this project is another example of state and federal collaboration in the interest of promoting renewable energy and securing a more reliable electrical grid. "We are committed to working closely with TANC and other federal and state agencies to achieve a coordinated and effective process for the TTP."

TANC is committed to an open, transparent public process for the development of the TTP that provides a variety of opportunities for community involvement during the environmental process. TANC will keep the public informed through newsletters, press releases, website content (www.tanc.us), and public meetings to be held periodically throughout the development period. TANC will work with members of the public, agencies, and affected landowners throughout the environmental studies and route selection processes in the years 2009 through 2011.

For more information, please visit the TANC website: www.tanc.us, or contact us at TTP@tanc.us.

About TANC

Established in1984, the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) is a California Joint Powers Agency consisting of 15 local governmental utilities. The Mission of TANC is to assist its publicly-owned utility Members in providing cost-effective energy supplies to their customers, through long term ownership of essential high-voltage transmission lines within California and the western United States. TANC currently owns approximately 90 percent of the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP) which interconnects California with the Pacific Northwest.

SOURCE: Transmission Agency of Northern California