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Regional
grid operator expedites approval process for Thumb project, setting
positive precedent for further clean energy transmission in 2011
SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE
Saint Paul
,
MINN.
— The Midwest Independent System Operator (Midwest ISO)
Thursday approved a clean energy transmission line known as the Michigan
“Thumb” Project for inclusion in Appendix A of the Midwest
Transmission Expansion Plan for 2010 (MTEP 10).
The full suite of transmission lines within MTEP 10
will be voted on in December.
Once a transmission line is included in Appendix A of
MTEP and approved by the Midwest ISO Board of Directors, the
utilities/transmission companies must use best efforts to construct the
transmission line.
The Thumb Project is needed for
Michigan
to meet its Renewable Energy Standard requirements in 2015.
The Thumb Project is the first regional transmission
line to be considered under the Multi-Value Project, or MVP, criteria of
the Midwest ISO’s cost allocation proposal.
The new cost allocation approach, currently under
review at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), would broadly
distribute the costs of large transmission lines that bring wide-ranging
benefits to the
Midwest
region over time.
As the regional grid operator for the region, the
Midwest ISO’s actions on establishing a just and reasonable cost
allocation proposal and now expediting a needed transmission line were
welcomed by many in the wind industry.
“We are very pleased the Thumb Project has been
expedited for consideration in 2010. This is a great step forward not just
for
Michigan
, but for the overall process of building overdue new transmission to meet
our clean energy goals across the
Midwest
,” said Beth Soholt, executive director of the regional wind energy
advocacy group Wind on the Wires.
“This will send a positive signal to wind
developers, policymakers and clean energy advocates that the
Midwest
is serious about building the infrastructure we need to accommodate a
clean energy future.” The Thumb is one of a number of Starter Projects
identified by the Midwest ISO through the Regional Generator Outlet Study
for initial consideration under their recently proposed cost allocation
proposal, which was filed July 15 with FERC.
Wind on the Wires is focused on moving forward
proposed transmission projects, such as the starter projects, that will
enable new wind generation development as quickly as possible.
Working within the Midwest ISO stakeholder process,
Wind on the Wires will advocate for the inclusion of the remainder of the
Starter Projects to be included in Appendix A in MTEP11.
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