The Western Governor’s Association met yesterday in Park City, Utah to discuss a new renewable energy generation and distribution plan. On hand were key cabinet leaders from the Obama administration, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The three vowed strong federal support for renewable energy development in the region, including plans to map new transmission corridors.
The meeting focused on a report on Western Renewable Energy Zones (WREZ) that was developed by the Association and the Department of Energy that was released to the public yesterday. This Phase 1 Report centers on mapping high-quality resources to meet demands in the region, including the Black & Veatch-developed map that is pictured above.
The WREZ uses a hub-based approach to determine areas of high potential for renewable resources with low environmental impact. This first of four reports maps out the zones using a detailed methodology that balance benefits with the need to protect wildlife habitat. The report evaluates various transmission strategies, including the development of a sophisticated modeling tool to assess economic costs of transmission from specific zones to specific populations. It also summarizes the overall renewable energy supply in the region from various renewable energy sources.
The four-part series of reports are being developed along with multiple stakeholders, including Canadian provinces, tribal interests, utility planners, environmental groups, renewable energy developers and government policy makers. Phase 2 of the WREZ initiative will work to finalize the modeling tool that estimates the economic benefits of developing specific zones for specific populations. As part of this plan, transmission right-of-way corridor siting will take place, including “coarse-level” environmental screening to recommend the preferred locations for corridors and rights-of-way. Phase 3 will focus on coordinating the development of commercial renewable power generation with cooperative region-wide planning. Phase 4 will work to foster interstate cooperation to address the political and regulatory obstacles to the permitting and construction of cross-jurisdictional transmission lines and renewable energy projects.
