Table of Contents

 

Energy Insights Opinion

In This Report

Situation Overview

Lagging U.S. Grid Investment
Figure: U.S. and U.K. Normalized High-Voltage Transmission Capital Investment Levels, 1999–2003 and 2004–2008
Table: Wind Energy Penetration in Europe and the United States, 2006

Figure: Conceptual 765kV Backbone System for Wind Resource Integration
Figure: Proposed Large-Scale U.S. Transmission Plans
Transmission and Wind Energy Access Hang-Ups
Which Comes First: Generation or Transmission?
Lengthy Planning Processes, Mismatched Build Times
Grid Interconnection Proximate to Load Centers
Intermittency Concerns
Queue Delays
Unstable Policy Support

The Approach

Wind Integration Studies: Results Encouraging
Table: Key Results from Major Wind Integration Studies, 2003-2006

Federal Actions
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Rulings
Conditional Firm Transmission Service
National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors
Renewable Transmission Bonds: Potential Funding for Public Power Companies
Regional Initiatives
Regional Transmission Planning Efforts
Area Control Error Diversity Interchange
Figure: Proposed Large-Scale U.S. Transmission Plans
Technical Innovation
Case Studies: Linking State RPSs with Comprehensive Transmission Planning
Texas: Competitive Renewable Energy Zones
California: Wholesale Transmission Tariff
Colorado: Following Texas with Energy Resource Zones
Figure: The High Plains Express Project
Minnesota: RPS Framework
New Mexico: Renewable Energy Transmission Authority
Figure: State Transmission Authorities

Future Outlook

Essential Guidance

Actions to Consider

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Related Research
Energy Insights Research
Other Research
Synopsis

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