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2009 Annual Report released Western’s Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report (1.7 MB pdf) is now available online. The publication documents Western’s accomplishments, as well as its 2009 financials. Western solicits customer input on comments to FERC Western intends to file comments in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and Operating Public Utilities (1.1 MB pdf) (NOPR) that was released June 17, 2010 in Docket No. RM10-23. In that NOPR, the Commission is proposing to amend the transmission planning and cost allocation requirements for public utility providers established in Order 890.
Given the unique nature of this particular NOPR, Western will hold an informal customer meeting on August 5, at 10:30 a.m., at our Corporate Services Office at 12155 W. Alameda Parkway in Lakewood, Colorado. Western will provide a high level synopsis of the NOPR and outline the areas it is considering for comment (94 kb pdf). Customers will have an opportunity to comment on the technical areas of the NOPR Western will address in its comments. Western has established a limited number of phone lines through a conference bridge for those unable to attend in person. Limited WebEx online meeting capability will also be available. To register for the meeting, either in person, conference call or WebEx, e-mail or call Corporate Communications at 720-962-7050.
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LaVerne Kyriss |
Long-time Western Area Power Administration manager LaVerne Kyriss was named March 15 to head up Western’s Colorado River Storage Project Management Center in Salt Lake City. “LaVerne brings a wealth of experience gained from supporting various Western programs and regions to this new assignment,” noted Western’s Administrator Tim Meeks. Kyriss will lead Western’s efforts in the CRSP power marketing program and the Montrose Energy Management and Marketing Office and in moving CRSP resources into the Rocky Mountain Balancing Authority, as well as play a key role in planning, coordinating and directing Western’s activities to support the ongoing research and management activities in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon.
Federal agencies interested in meeting their renewable energy goals and mandates, improving the environment and supporting national energy security are invited to join the 2010 renewable energy certificate solicitation being issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, Western Area Power Administration's Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies Program and Federal Energy Management Program. Join us at 11 a.m. MST on March 3, 2010, for a 45-minute Webinar covering the key requirements and steps associated with this REC purchase.
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Brad Warren |
Administrator Tim Meeks today announced the selection of Bradley Warren as the Rocky Mountain regional manager in Loveland, Colo. Warren brings more than 27 years of diverse technical and senior management expertise to Western's Rocky Mountain Region. He has most recently served as Western's Colorado River Storage Project Management Center Manager in Salt Lake City, Utah. "Brad brings a breadth of leadership experience in the power industry," Meeks said. "I look forward to him carrying on the tradition of serving public power while meeting the challenges we face in the future. I am pleased with this selection and confident that Brad will be an asset to the Rocky Mountain Region."
Through the Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies program, Western has purchased renewable energy certificates to help meet renewable energy goals set by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 3 Degrees, Unicoi Energy Services, LLC and NextEra Energy Resources will supply Western with approximately 11,486 RECs in 2009; 50,000 RECs in 2010; and 1,372 RECs in each year from 2011 to 2015.
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Ken Schriner |
A tireless dedication to teaching and promoting safety in the community, industry and the workplace led Ken Schriner, a safety and security specialist in Western’s Rocky Mountain Region, to be selected for the National Safety Council’s highest honor for an individual. Schriner will receive the 2009 Distinguished Service to Safety Award on Oct. 26 during NSC’s fall exposition in Orlando, Fla.
Western will use borrowing authority under the Recovery Act to help build the $213 million Montana-Alberta Tie Limited (MATL) transmission project between Great Falls, Montana, and Lethbridge, Alberta. The project meets the criteria established for Western’s Transmission Infrastructure Program and is our first to use the new borrowing authority.
Almost two-thirds of the 214-mile transmission line will be located on U.S. soil, creating American jobs and allowing for the continued expansion of renewable energy production. Once energized, as early as 2010, the 230-kilovolt transmission project will be capable of delivering 300-600 megawatts of clean, renewable wind energy.
The MATL project will be funded through a public-private partnership between Western and Tonbridge Power Inc. with up to $161 million of the total project costs funded through Western’s Recovery Act borrowing authority.
Administrator Tim Meeks announced today his selection of Craig Knoell as the new Transmission Infrastructure Program manager for Western Area Power Administration. Knoell will start his appointment as TIP manager on Sept. 13. Read the news release or see Knoell’s bio for more information.
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Read about efforts last month to save a fledgling owl stuck precariously in the crevice of a Western Area Power Administration tower near Prescott, Ariz., in the News Features section of our Newsroom. Great horned owls took over a red-tailed hawk's nest in the tower shown in this photo.
Informal customer meetings held at the Rocky Mountain, Desert Southwest regional offices and the Colorado River Storage Project Management Center May 20 to 22 rolled out cost allocation methodology recommendations for the Operations Consolidation Project. Customer comments were requested and are due by June 22. Visit the OCP page to see incoming comments and Western's responses to them.
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The nation's transmission infrastructure |
The May 14 publication of our new Transmission Infrastructure Program in the Federal Register, gives Western a solid foundation to build partnerships that will make concrete the vision established in Section 402 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
This milestone marks the end of the public process that helped us define the policies and practices to follow in exercising our new borrowing authority granted under Section 402.
“With the ground rules in place, the stage is set for initial project selections,” said Western’s Administrator Tim Meeks. “We remain committed to taking steps that will create new jobs and get lines in the air to help deliver renewable energy to market.”
