ENVIRONMENTAL DATA IN

TRANSMISSION PLANNING

AUGUST 3, 2015Carl Zichella

DIRECTOR OF WESTERN TRANSMISSION

• NRDC Overview• WECC Overview• Environmental Resource Data• Zoning and Master Panning

Presentation Overview

Who is NRDC?

http://www.nrdc.org

NRDC uses law, science and the support of 1.3 million

members and online activists to protect the planet's

wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy

environment for all living

things.

System Adequacy at WECC

• Lead transmission expansion planning for the Western Interconnection

• Annual study program• Congestion studies

Transmission Expansion Planning

Policy Committee

(TEPPC)

• Technical analysis• Studies• Data• Scenarios

Subcommittees and Work

Groups

TEPPCMembers

Transmission

Stakeholders

State & Provincial Entities

Environmental

Stakeholders

Tribes

Other Stakeholder

s

Who Does TEPPC Serve?

7

Environmental Data Work Group

• Environmental Data Task Force (Now the Environmental Data Work Group EDWG)

• Formed in June, 2010• Includes representation by broad

stakeholders• Provides input to transmission

expansion planning process

Primary EDWG Products

• Available• Reviewed for Quality• Relevant to Transmission Planning

Preferred Data Sets

• Four Risk Levels• Low Risk (1) to Exclusion Area (4)Risk Classification System

• Compares relative risks of transmission alternatives

• Alternatives identified in long-term study cases

• Available for use outside of WECC

Comparison Methodology

• Considers “environmental risk contours”• Also considers cultural risks• Considers capital costs of “bending lines”

Review of Study Case Results

Environmental/Cultural Data (Samples)

Preferred Data

Sensitive Species Areas

Tribal Lands

Conservation Areas

Wilderness Areas

Scenic Manageme

nt Areas

Historic Trails

Risk Classification

Category 4• Exclusion Areas

Category 3• High Risk

Category 2• Low-to-moderate risk

Category 1• Lowest Risk

11

Benefits of Environmental Data

• Decrease cost and conflict• Avoid delaysUse of Data at

Planning Stage

• Avoid or mitigate risks at planning levelEnsure Data

Quality

• Use by federal/state/provincial/ regional entities

Public Availability of

Tools

12Example of Use: WECC Long-

Term Planning ToolCreates transmission expansion options based on study case inputs

• Loads, resource costs, fuel prices, carbon cost

Options are “point-to-point”• Need to “bend the lines”

13

Environmental Risk Classes 1-4

Blue line connects endpoints

Darker areas = higher risk category

14

LTPT With Environmental Overlay

Semi-transparent EDWG overlay on terrain map

Semi-transparent corridor over EDWG and terrain maps

15

How Can You See the Data?

ZONING AND MASTER PLANNING

• Goals long term/ Plan Long Term• Orderly development over time• Renewable Resource Zoning

• Low Impact Lands (ex. Parts of Central Valley)

• Scalable Infrastructure• Avoid unnecessary ROWs• Reduce costs

Planning for Present and Future Needs

• Plan together with Generation• RETI-style Zones

• Scale Transmission to meet expected needs

• Use Risk Methodology to avoid conflicts

• Realign Transmission Planning• Prioritize Transmission that meets

System Needs

Transmission Planning

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Carl Zichella

Natural Resources Defense Council

czichella@nrdc.org

(415) 875-6100

(916) 837-7127

QUESTIONS?