North American Windpower: California Public Utilities Commission Approves Transmission Study

by NAW Staff on Wednesday 05 September 2007

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved a renewable transmission feasibility study designed to allow Southern California Edison (SCE) to access new renewable resources located in western Nevada, Inyo and eastern San Bernardino counties, the Salton Sea area in California, and western Arizona.

According to CPUC, the SCE's request to perform the study last year eventually led to the formation of the California Renewable Transmission Energy Initiative (CRETI) - a statewide effort organized by CPUC, the California Energy Commission, the California Independent System Operator and representatives from municipally owned utilities to study renewable-rich resource areas in California and develop transmission plans to reach those resources.

As part of the approved study, SCE will participate in Phase 1 of the CRETI effort, which will involve a robust cost-effectiveness analysis that prioritizes California’s renewable resource areas, the CPUC says. SCE will conduct its Phase 2 work within the framework of the CRETI and will focus its transmission studies on those priority areas identified in CRETI Phase 1.

"Edison is showing tremendous leadership in undertaking this study to find transmission solutions for accessing renewable power, which is typically located far from the grid and often requires extensive and costly transmission upgrades," says Dian M. Grueneich, commissioner of CPUC. "California has the most ambitious renewable goals in the country, and to meet those goals we need to take a comprehensive look at transmission issues that would prevent getting renewable power to consumers."

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