Regional planning
The TWE Project has been the subject of a Regional Planning Project Review conducted in accordance with Western Electricity Coordinating Council planning procedures. Initiated in mid-2007, the review was conducted jointly with PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway South Transmission Project, a proposed 500kV alternating-current transmission line.
- A Conceptual Technical Report performed as part of the Regional Planning Project Review determined that both transmission projects will cost-effectively serve the Desert Southwest region while minimizing environmental impact.
- The Regional Planning Project Review also included extensive stakeholder consultation to ensure the efficient development of an overall regional transmission plan. Four public meetings were held in 2007 and 2008 in Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Arizona.
In addition, the TWE Project was included in work performed by two sub-regional transmission groups:
- The Northern Tier Transmission Group, which coordinates planning in the Northwest and Mountain states, included the TWE Project within the study work performed as part of its Fast Track Project Process and 2007 Annual Planning Report.
- WestConnect, which coordinates planning in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, included the TWE Project in its 2008-2017 Transmission Plan.
The TWE Project, and other major transmission projects included within these regional plans, will provide needed strength for the Intermountain regional grid within the WECC transmission system, thus improving the reliability of the entire region.
WECC rating
The Western Electricity Coordinating Council’s rating process ensures that new projects are properly integrated into the existing transmission grid to enhance the overall reliability of the grid. The WECC rating process for the TWE Project was initiated in 2008. TransWest Express LLC continued the process and in October 2009 submitted its Phase 1 Comprehensive Progress Report to WECC members. Phase 2 status was granted in February 2010.
TransWest continues to coordinate with Northern Tier Transmission Group members as part of the rating process, and it expects to receive a WECC path rating in 2012.
At 3,000 MW, the TWE Project will be one of the largest transmission elements within the WECC system.