STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

In the Matter of:                       )     Docket 03-IEP-01
                                        )
Informational Proceeding and            )     NOTICE OF COMMITTEE
Preparation of the 2004 Integrated      )     WORKSHOP ON THE 2004
Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update      )     TRANSMISSION UPDATE
________________________________________)

Attachment A      Attachment B    Attachment C

As part of the 2004 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update proceeding, the California Energy Commission will conduct a third workshop on its ongoing collaborative state transmission assessment. This workshop will explore 1) the transmission constraints to accessing renewable energy resources in the Southern California area (e.g., Tehachapi wind resource area and Salton Sea geothermal resource area), 2) a proposed approach to studying transmission corridor expansion constraints in the Southern California area, and 3) a draft transmission vision for California (follow-up to the April 5, 2004 workshop discussion topic entitled "Collaboration on Developing a Long-Term Vision of the State's Transmission System"). Please see Attachments A, B, and C for more information on workshop topics.

The IEPR Committee invites all interested parties to discuss these topics with the Committee. The workshop will be held on:

MONDAY, MAY 10, 2004
Starting at 10 a.m.
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
1516 Ninth Street
Hearing Room A
Sacramento, California
(Wheelchair Accessible)

Note: Audio from this hearing will be broadcast over the Internet.
For details on listening in, please go to: www.energy.ca.gov/realaudio/

The first and second transmission-related workshops were held on November 6, 2003 and April 5, 2004, respectively. A Committee workshop entitled "Accelerated Renewable Energy Development" is scheduled for May 4, 2004. For more information about those workshops, see documents at: www.energy.ca.gov/2004_policy_update/documents/index.html#11-06-2003.

The Energy Commission adopts the IEPR every two years and updates the report every other year. The Energy Commission is currently preparing the 2004 IEPR Update.

Purpose

As described in the 2003 IEPR, modernizing and upgrading the bulk transmission grid should be a centerpiece of the state's electricity planning process. The Committee's purpose is to ensure that grid expansions are made on a timely basis while considering statewide objectives in determining transmission investments that best meet California's needs.

Workshop Participation and Comments

We invite public participation during this workshop on the topics and questions provided in Attachment B. Workshop attendees are strongly encouraged to participate in the morning panel discussion on the relationship of transmission constraints to renewable energy development. If you wish to join the panel, please contact Kristy Chew at (916) 654-3929 or by e-mail at: [kchew@energy.state.ca.us] by Thursday, May 6, 2004. As noted in Attachment A, the public will also have the opportunity to comment immediately following the afternoon presentations.

The Committee seeks comments and encourages interested parties to present their views either orally at the workshop or through written comments. The Committee requests that written comments specifically relating to these workshop topics be submitted by Monday, May 24, 2004. Please include the docket number 03-IEP-01 and indicate "2004 Transmission Update" in the subject line or initial paragraph of your comments. Those submitting written comments by electronic mail should provide the comments in either Microsoft Word format or Portable Document Format, but they must also submit one paper copy to the Energy Commission's Dockets Unit. E-mail comments should be sent to [docket@energy.state.ca.us]. Those submitting written comments by hard copy only must provide an original plus 12 paper copies to the Energy Commission's Dockets Unit.

Please send or deliver materials to the following address:

California Energy Commission
Dockets Office
Attn: Dockets 03-IEP-01
1516 Ninth Street, MS-4
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512

Alternatively, participants may provide an original and 12 copies at the beginning of the workshop. All written materials relating to this workshop will be filed with the Dockets Unit and will become part of the public record in this proceeding.

Additional Information

The Energy Commission's Public Adviser, Margret J. Kim, provides the public assistance in participating in Energy Commission activities. If you would like information on how to participate in this workshop, please contact the Public Adviser's Office by phone at (916) 654-4489 or toll-free at (800) 822-6228, by FAX at (916) 654-4493, or by e-mail at [pao@energy.state.ca.us]. If you have a disability and require assistance to participate in this workshop, please contact Lou Quiroz at (916) 654-5146 at least five days in advance.

Technical questions should be directed to Don Kondoleon of the Engineering Office, at (916) 654-3918 or by email at [dkondole@energy.state.ca.us]. News media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director, at (916) 654-4989.

Date Online: April 28, 2004

JOHN L. GEESMAN Commissioner and Presiding Member 2004-2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report Committee

JAMES D. BOYD Commissioner and Associate Member 2004-2005 Integrated Energy Policy Report Committee

 

 

---

 

 

Attachment A

Preliminary Agenda for the Integrated Energy Policy Report
Committee Workshop on the 2004 Transmission Update

Monday, May 10, 2004

10:00-10:15	Opening Remarks (Commissioners John L. Geesman and James D.Boyd, IEPR Committee)
10:15-12:15	Renewable Development and Transmission Constraints in Southern California (see Attachment B) Presentations - Policy Overview John White (Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technologies) Jonathan Weisgall (Cal Energy) Presentations - Tehachapi Patricia Arons (Southern California Edison Company) Robert Sparks (California Independent System Operator) Roby Roberts (Pacific Power Marketing) Hal Romanowitz (Oak Creek Energy Systems) Presentations - Salton Sea Juan Sandoval (Imperial Irrigation District) Dale Stevens (Cal Energy) Panel discussion of renewable energy developers, investor-owned utilities, municipal utilities, and other interested parties and individuals* on: "What should be the focus of the 2004 IEPR Update to facilitate access to renewable resources?" "What should the 2005 IEPR focus be?"
12:15-1:30	Lunch Break
1:30-2:15	Southern California Transmission Corridor Study Proposal Presentations 1. Kristy Chew (California Energy Commission) 2. Eileen Allen (California Energy Commission) Public comment on Transmission Corridor Study Questions (see Attachment B)
2:15-2:30	Development of a Transmission Vision for California Presentation 1. Judy Grau (California Energy Commission)
2:30-2:45	Public Comment
2:45-3:00	Closing Remarks (IEPR Committee)
* The Committee welcomes all interested parties and individuals to participate in the panel discussion. Please contact Kristy Chew at (916) 654-3929 or by email at [kchew@energy.state.ca.us] by Thursday, May 6, 2004 to join the panel discussion.

 

---

 

Attachment B:

Presentations and Questions for May 10 Workshop

Morning Session: Renewable Development and Transmission Constraints in Southern California

General Discussion Topic: How should wind resource development in the Tehachapi region and geothermal resource development in the Salton Sea region be interconnected to the grid?

Questions/Issues to be Addressed by the Presenters:

1. What is the total potential for the wind resource in Tehachapi or the geothermal thermal Salton Sea regions?
   1. In what steps or phases would or should the resource be developed?

2. What are the physical limits on the existing transmission facilities?
   1. Do contractual limits on the transmission facilities further limit the transmission capacity available to renewable resources?
   2. What are the transmission line needs for the foreseeable future? When are they needed?

3. How should the resources in the region be connected to the grid and major load centers?
   1. Are there other interconnection alternatives?

4. From your perspective, what are the preferred interconnection(s)?
   1. What level of resource development will this interconnection support?
   2. Can it be staged to accommodate a phased development of the generation resource?
   3. Does this interconnection affect the operation of the transmission system outside of the local area?
   4. Are there existing transmission corridors or will new corridors need to be developed?
   5. What studies have been completed (powerflow, economic, and/or environmental) and are they available to the public?
   6. What kind of permits will be required for the transmission facilities and how long will it take to permit and construct these facilities?
   7. What actions or steps do you recommend be done to facilitate the development of these transmission facilities?

5. How should the system transmission needs and the transmission needs for renewable resources be integrated?

 

General Questions for the Panel Discussion

1. What should the focus of the 2004 IEPR be to facilitate access to renewable resources? What should the 2005 IEPR focus be?

First Afternoon Session: Southern California Transmission Corridor Study Proposal

The staff will present:

• the background and purpose of the proposed study,
• the proposed areas and the rationale in recommending these areas for analysis,
• preliminary data compilation and presentation methods, and
• known data sources.

The staff will raise the following questions:

1. How can this proposed study be made more valuable to energy developers, utilities, the public, and others? What additional information should be considered?

2. 1. Should this approach be expanded to other parts of the study area?
   2. If so, which ones?
   3. In what priority order?

3. 1. What are the priority corridor needs for the next 10 years?
   2. What constraints need to be addressed associated with these corridors?

4. 1. What should the state's role be in determining corridor availability and planning expansion?
   2. What policy actions would you recommend?

5. In the event of limited expandability of existing corridors, what should the state's role be in planning new corridors?

6. During the process of identifying new corridors or the expansion of existing corridors, what known federal (or other) restrictions would preclude state action?

7. 1. What constraints should be studied for 2004 IEPR Update?
   2. For the 2005 IEPR?

 

Second Afternoon Session: Development of a Transmission Vision for California Session

The staff will present a draft transmission vision for California based on the April 5, 2004 workshop and comments submitted, and then raise the following questions:

1. Has the staff accurately captured comments from the April 5, 2004 workshop?



2. Is the staff's relative ranking of topics reasonable?

 

APPENDIX C:
Transmission Vision for California:
Summary of Comments and Draft Vision

Summary of Comments from the April 5, 2004 Integrated Energy Policy Report Committee Workshop on the 2004 Transmission Update and Draft Transmission Vision
On-Line: May 05, 2004. (Acrobat PDF file, 16 pages, 220 kilobytes).