News Releases for September 2008
September 18, 2008
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Hoeven: Regional Initiative Focuses On Wind Energy Expansion
Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative to Address Need for Regional Cooperation on Electric Grid Expansion to Support Wind Energy Resources
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that North Dakota and four Midwest states have created a regional transmission planning effort that will promote regional electric transmission investment and cost sharing. Sandi Tabor, Director of the North Dakota Transmission Authority, will serve on the task force.
The Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative will identify energy generation resources, transmission projects and infrastructure needed to support those resources in a cost-effective manner. Over the next 12 months, participants will determine a reasonable allocation of costs for necessary infrastructure ultimately leading to the development of a concrete plan or tariff proposal for consideration by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO).
Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota join North Dakota to coordinate efforts among state regulatory agencies, transmission companies, utilities, independent generation owners and other key stakeholders in the initiative. These states will work closely with MISO which is presently conducting a variety of transmission planning studies with results expected in 2009. Governors of all five states praised the effort as a necessary step in facilitating cooperative transmission planning at the regional level.
“The positive economic implications of sound energy planning are already apparent in North Dakota,” Hoeven said. “Regional cooperation and preplanning by North Dakota and the four other states involved in this initiative will help to attract new transmission investments that are timely and well-designed to expedite wind energy development in our state and our region.”
“The time is right for planning and coordination between these states in the Midwest ISO,” Governor Tim Pawlenty said. “As states in the region increase their use of wind energy, planning on how best to locate wind farms and other renewable sources and build the necessary transmission infrastructure to support them is crucial.”
“Coordinated transmission planning centered on renewable energy is critical to providing a diverse supply of affordable, clean energy to our region,” said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle. “The coordinated transmission planning we are announcing today matches the recommendations made in a report by Wisconsin’s Global Warming Task Force.”
“This effort complements and meshes very well with ongoing initiatives at MISO and the Midwest Governors Association,” said Governor Michael Rounds of South Dakota, who is also the current MGA Chair.
“I'm committed to Iowa’s continued production of renewable energy,” said Iowa Governor Chet Culver. “This collaboration on electric transmission development continues and strengthens our goal of making Iowa the renewable energy capital of the United States. A critical issue is cost sharing, and I am confident that this group of like-minded states can work through that difficult issue.”
Participants of the initiative will hold their first meeting in October. Afterward a project timeline, scope statement, work plan, and identification of appropriate stakeholders will be available.
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