NWCC NATIONAL WIND COORDINATING COLLABORATIVE

HIGHLIGHTS

February 15, 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER

New Save the Date: Wind Wildlife Research Meeting VII!!! - Due to a scheduling conflict, the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting has been changed to October 27-30, 2008, We Energies will host the biennial Meeting at its headquarters in Milwaukee, WI. The event will feature a ½ day introductory session for those new to wind-wildlife issues, followed by two days of presentations on the latest research on wind and wildlife interactions. The Wildlife Workgroup Core Group will meet to discuss Workgroup business on the final day. For updates as they become available, please check out the meeting website.

Webcast: Wind-Wildlife Habitat Initiatives in Texas - On March 6th, Heather Whitlaw, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, will brief the Wildlife Workgroup and other interested parties on grasslands and greater prairie chicken habitat initiatives currently underway in Texas. Webcast and dial-in information will be distributed to the Wildlife Workgroup in advance of the call.

NWCC Probability of Impact and Wildlife Workgroup Meeting Materials Online - Summaries, presentations, next steps memos, and other materials from the November Probability of Impact Workshop and Wildlife Workgroup meeting are now available online.

NWCC CONFERENCE CALLS

NWCC Steering Committee call
February 28, 1:00 pm ET

Transmission Update call
March 11, 1:00 pm ET

Wildlife Workgroup call
March 12, 2:30 pm ET

Transmission Workgroup call
March 25, 2:00 pm ET

Working Groups

SPP Transmission planning committee call
February 25, noon ET

NWCC WORKGROUP UPDATES

RfP to Update Methods & Metrics Document - Proposals to update the Methods & Metrics Document were due on February 13, 2008. Members of the NWCC RfP Oversight Committee are currently reviewing all submissions and will soon participate in a conference call to discuss the proposals and determine the rank order. Updates will be provided as available.

Habitat Subgroup - The Habitat subgroup will host a March 6th webcast on initiatives in Texas studying potential impacts of wind on greater prairie chicken habitat and grasslands. Webcast and dial-in information will be sent to the Wildlife Workgroup in advance of the call.

Grassland and Shrub Steppe Species Collaborative (GS3C) - On February 8, the GS3C heard a briefing on sage grouse interaction with wind energy development. KSU researchers also presented an annual report on its ongoing study of wind energy’s potential impacts to prairie chicken habitat in Kansas. A call summary is under development, and next steps are being deliberated by the Oversight Committee.

Research Meeting VII Planning Committee - The Wind Wildlife Research Meeting has been rescheduled for October 27-30th in Milwaukee, WI. Planners are reaching out to potential co-sponsors.

Key Research Topics Subgroup - The subgroup has reviewed a draft of the Research Topics white paper. Edits are being incorporated and will be submitted to the Wildlife Workgroup for approval before the document is finalized.

Wind/Wildlife Activities & Events Table - The NWCC wind power/wildlife studies, activities, and events table has been updated and is available online. Please send information on wind-wildlife meetings, studies, or publications to Taylor Kennedy at tkennedy@resolv.org for inclusion in this table.

Midwest - The Midwest Transmission planning committee met on February 4th to continue planning a conference on Midwest wind energy contributions to meeting load and opportunities to assist the Midwest Governors with implementing their energy platform. Planning committee members are assisting with outreach to speakers. The proposed meeting location has been changed from Indiana to Michigan and is still tentatively slated for July 2008.

SPP - The SPP planning committee worked together to refine a meeting concept. The group envisions bringing together governors and other regional leaders to discuss how the regional transmission grid can accomplish objectives like reliability, consumer benefits, economic development, and renewable energy development. Planning committee members are contacting key stakeholders about their interest in helping to put together such an event.

West - The Western Transmission Leadership Group (WTLG) discussed possible meeting topics and approaches on its February 1st call. WTLG members also provided feedback on webcast topics. Planning for meetings and webcasts continues.

The 5th volume of NWCC’s Implementing Wind Energy & Transmission in the West quarterly newsletter is due out in March. Please send any suggestions for articles to Katie Kalinowski, kkalinowski@resolv.org.

Layman’s Guide to Wind Integration - NNWCC members are collaborating on an outline for a NWCC / NCSL layman’s guide to wind integration. Once these refinements are complete, drafting of the guide will commence.

Transmission Updates - The Transmission Update scheduled for February 19th has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 11th at 1 pm ET. The March 11th call topic will be announced in a future update.