Yesterday Class 4 Winds, a wind advocate located in the Panhandle of Texas, hosted a seminar focusing on transmission for renewable energy zones in Amarillo, Texas. The event featured representatives from Sharyland Utilities and Cross Texas Transmission. These companies have both been designated to build out transmission in the Panhandle of Texas as designated by the PUCT.
Click here to see a map of where the lines are planned and who will build them.
You will be able to find both presentation on
Class 4 Winds' Web site, but here are a couple of the points I felt were important to mention:
When looking at the map (from above) you will see dots which represents the proximity in which a substation or collection station will be built. It is important to note that while this represents the general area in which the station will be built, the actual exact placement of the substation has not been determined. Both Cross Texas and Sharyland pointed out that the dot on the map represents the location ERCOT identified but they have not zeroed in on a location.
Information meetings similar to the event that took place in Amarillo will take place in the preliminary stages of this process. As the companies begin to map out different routes in which they may build the lines they will notify landowners who will potentially be affected. Maps will be available at these meetings showing the possible routes and landowners will be asked to give feedback. Both presenters noted the importance of getting community feedback to determine what routes would work best for everyone. Many letters have already been sent out to environmental entities, counties, municipalities, etc. to help identify areas to avoid including things such as: cemeteries, center pivots, airports, etc. The main point here is that these companies are looking to work very closely with communities to make sure they minimize the impact these lines may have. Once several routes have been selected they will be sent to the PUCT via a CCN at which time members of the public would have the opportunity to go to the PUCT with concerns and insight.
- Acquiring Right of Way (ROW)
Once the PUCT has approved the company's CCN and selected a route the company will then go about securing the necessary ROW. The companies will have the land appraised and will then go about purchasing the land right out or with an option; the most typical type of purchase agreement will be a land easement to last the life of the line. Land will be acquired for substations, access roads, foundations, and the lines themselves. Sharyland's represetative said that they will be sending a group out to visit with landowners post-construction to make sure they is no aviodable damage done to the land.
- Dispatch priorities vs. open access systems
One big question that seems to arise with the build out of transmission is, who gets to online and who gets to do it first? Currently under docket number 34577 the PUCT is trying to decide how to handle this situation. Some wind developers would like to see priority given to those who formally participated in the CCN application process and other support an open access system. Those who are actively involved in the process would be asked to post collateral with 45 days of transmission service providers (TSPs) CCN application which would cover cost of transmission improvements. These developers would be refunded if they went online within a year after the system is ready. There is also they issue as to whether or not it is even legal to give priority to one kind of developer, in this case wind. Developers are hoping to get some certainty on this matter sometime this year.
For More information about either of these companies visit thier Web sites at:
www.sharylandutilities.comwww.crosstexas.com
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