NWCC Transmission Update - Friday, December 12, 1pm ET

The next NWCC Transmission Update call will be held on Friday, December 12 at 1:00 pm Eastern (12:00 pm CT, 11:00 am MT, 10:00 am PT) and will cover the report from the NERC Integration of Variable Generation Task Force and the new Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative.

NERC Integration of Variable Generation Task Force - Anticipating substantial growth of variable generation, in December 2007 the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s (NERC) Planning and Operating Committees created the Integration of Variable Generation Task Force charged with preparing a report to:
- Raise industry awareness and understanding of variable generation characteristics as well as system planning and operation challenges expected with accommodating large amounts of variable generation;
- Investigate high level shortcomings of existing approaches used by system planners and operators and the need for new approaches to plan, design and operate the power system; and
- Broadly assess NERC standards to identify possible gaps and requirements to ensure bulk power system reliability.

Mark Lauby of NERC will discuss preliminary conclusions and recommendations resulting from the Task Force’s activities.

Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative (UMTDI) - On September 18, 2008, the governors of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin announced the creation of the Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative (UMTDI). The UMTDI member states seek to accomplish two major tasks: first, to establish a plan that will guide and encourage the construction of interstate transmission lines to serve the upper Midwest region’s commitment to cost-effective renewable generation while maintaining reliability; and second, to develop an equitable cost-sharing methodology. Edward Garvey, who is supporting the UMTDI, will give an update on the Initiative’s activities.

Call Information
Call-in Number: 1-800-820-4690
Access Code: 9878643#