The Hot Topic Hour on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 will be Transmission Line Siting
The electric power providers face Federal and State mandates to obtain a
significant percentage of the power they provide from renewable resources within
the next 5 to 10 years. Solar, wind and geothermal energy are the leading
candidates for supplying large quantities of clean renewable energy at costs
close to current fossil-fueled power. Unfortunately, the best sources of
renewable power generation exist in remote locations (i.e., wind in the Central
plains areas and solar in the desert Southwest) and the existing grid cannot
support the increased regional load and long transmission distances to reach the
population centers where the power is needed.
To make this renewable energy a reality many new high voltage transmission lines
need to be constructed. However, the utilities face many of the same problems in
bringing these renewable energy sources online as they do when permitting a new
fossil fueled plant. The same environmentalists that vigorously oppose any new
coal-fired power plants also oppose the construction of the transmission lines
necessary to transmit the power to the localities where it is needed. Their
opposition is based on "spoiling" the natural landscapes when the lines must
cross wildlife habitats and parklands. Other members of the public also oppose
construction of transmission lines for many reasons, some of which are the
following. The local citizens do not perceive any local benefit from the
additional energy from solar and wind farms and transmission lines and do not
want to have to pay for the cost of constructing the transmission lines (most
areas that need to be developed for renewable power are low energy users); they
simply do not want unsightly transmission lines crossing their property. They
fear the affect of the high voltage corona on their health; or they fear the
affect on their property values. The public expects that their electricity
providers will use more clean energy to power their homes, schools, businesses,
and institutions as long as they do not have to pay for it or have unsightly
transmission lines in their neighborhoods.
The following speakers will discuss some of the issues related to planning,
permitting and constructing new ETL's.
Cyril Welter, Senior Project Manager, Environmental Studies & Permitting
Division, Burns & McDonnell will discuss "The Growing Use of the Rebuild
Alternative." The presentation will address the increasing pressure from the
public and regulators to use existing right of ways rather than building on new
right of ways. Cyril will describe some examples and the benefits and concerns
with such a solution.
Doug Smith, a member of Van Ness Feldman, a Washington-based law firm
specializing in energy, environmental and natural resource matters will provide
an update on the ongoing Federal policy debate concerning transmission
infrastructure development. Transmission planning, siting and cost allocations
are being debated in Congress and these issues are also under consideration at
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of Energy and the
Federal land agencies. Much of the debate focuses on how best to support
transmission investments needed to foster ambitious renewable energy
development.
Neil Palmer of Neil Palmer & Associates, LLC - Success in siting, permitting and
constructing new electric transmission facilities has less to do with financial
resources, engineering expertise or even environmental studies and more to do
with a carefully crafted public affairs plan being well managed than most people
realize.
Grant Bailey, Associate Program Manager, Golder Associates Inc.
To register for the "Hot Topic Hour" on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. CDT
(Chicago time), click on: http://www.mcilvainecompany.com/brochures/FGDnetoppbroch/Default1.htm.
Bob McIlvaine
President
847 784 0012 ext 112
rmcilvaine@mcilvainecompany.com
www.mcilvainecompany.com