Energy Biz - September/October 2008 - (Page 12) » Financial Front Focusing on Smart transmission Investment KANSAS PROJECT LAUNCH By LiSA BARTON The fuTure securiTy of our nation’s economy requires creative energy solutions. The ability of electric utilities to continue delivering reliable, reasonably priced electricity to fuel the U.S. economy is increasingly challenged by aging, insufficient infrastructure, continued growth in electrical load, rising construction costs, and a societal desire Lisa Barton to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An important part of successfully managing these issues is the strategic expansion of the transmission grid, including significant investment in extra-highvoltage transmission. These critical needs present an opportunity to create a true interstate transmission system. Developing an extra-high-voltage transmission superhighway would allow more efficient use of existing transmission NewsFlash and generation, enhance reliability and expand Maine Business Rates CliMB opportunities for nonemitting Higher fuel and renewable generation. Such wholesale power costs a system would ensure that will push standard offer the transmission investments electric rates up as much as 32 percent for made are the most efficient some Maine businesses, and effective possible. according to the Associated Press. A shared belief in the The increases will critical need for transmission apply to businesses that have not secured their investment and recognition own electricity supply, of the benefits of extraaccording to state regulators. high-voltage transmission brought together American Electric Power and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company. In 2007, the companies formed two transmission joint ventures: Electric Transmission America, created to identify and invest in transmission projects throughout North America, and Electric Transmission September/October 2008 (Guest OpiniOn) Texas, a similar venture to invest in transmission solely within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. The AEP and MidAmerican partnerships pool the expertise and resources of two transmission powerhouses. AEP owns and operates the nation’s largest transmission system — more than 39,000 circuit miles — and is an expert in building and operating extrahigh-voltage transmission, operating more 765-kilovolt transmission than all other U.S. utilities combined. MidAmerican is the fifth-largest transmission owner in the nation and is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. Through ETA, AEP and MidAmerican are committed to investing in projects that advance the expansion of an interstate transmission system. ETA’s first project — a joint venture with Westar to build about 230 miles of 765-kilovolt transmission in Kansas — demonstrates the type of transmission investment AEP and MidAmerican believe is critical to modernize our nation’s transmission infrastructure. ETA has partnered with Westar, the local transmission expert, to build the first phase of the Southwest Power Pool’s extra-high-voltage Overlay Study. The SPP study recommends the development of the transmission to enhance reliability, address load growth and enable the region to become a leading generator of renewable energy. More than 30,000 megawatts of wind generation has been proposed in SPP, with a system ill-equipped to transport even a small fraction of those resources. The study also recommends using Long rows of six bundle spacers. PhOTOs cOurTEsy OF aMErican ELEcTric POwEr 12 E n E rgyB i z http://www.energycentral.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.