The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has applauded the unanimous approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of a new California Independent System Operator (ISO) transmission policy. The ruling states that in windy areas where there is no transmission, transmission should be financed and built first as long as it is clear that there is a large energy resource to be tapped and that there is some financial commitment on the part of generating companies to develop projects in the area, AWEA says.
"This decision is great news," says Rob Gramlich, AWEA's policy director. "Several hundred gigawatts of cost-effective, inexhaustible, 100-percent clean wind power are now a step closer to being tapped for the benefit of the nation's economy, environment and energy security."
According to the organization, the FERC decision comes at a time when similar policies are being implemented at the state level, including in Texas, Colorado, Minnesota and California. With the FERC decision, this policy can now be pursued by every transmission provider in the country with a FERC jurisdictional transmission tariff.
