BPA supports WestTEC: a west-wide transmission planning effort

The Bonneville Power Administration is playing a major role in enhancing transmission planning capabilities to meet the region’s growing loads and renewable resource portfolio requirements. BPA and other transmission operators will do this through the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition, a new transmission planning effort spearheaded by the Western Power Pool.

With national, state and local energy goals for clean, reliable and affordable electricity driving a significant shift in the energy landscape, renewable resources are replacing fossil fuels. Yet the increase in electricity demand across the West – the result of a growing high-tech industry and the electrification of transportation systems, chip manufacturers and server farms – challenges the capability of interlocked transmission systems up and down the region.

Recently formed, WestTEC will focus on developing West-wide transmission solutions that address rapidly changing energy demands and future grid requirements. The Western Power Pool, with participation from NorthernGrid, which Bonneville Power Administration is a member of, the California Independent System Operator, WestConnect, and other western utility and non-utility leaders will facilitate the regional planning initiative.

“WestTEC looks to explore an innovative approach for West-wide transmission planning that will result in an actionable transmission plan to address regional and inter-regional needs across the Western Interconnection,” said BPA Administrator and CEO John Hairston.

Hairston said Ravi Aggarwal, BPA’s director of Regional Transmission Planning, is on special assignment to represent Bonneville and provide leadership to the budding WestTEC. He shared that among the challenges the coalition faces are concerns that current transmission planning frameworks in the West are not producing sufficient solutions to meet regional transmission needs.

“We have to be different,” Aggarwal said.

WestTEC’s new approach to regional transmission planning will be broader than any previous regional effort which have not resulted in transmission builds. It seeks to create a long-range, actionable transmission plan that can successfully deliver generation to loads, ensuring transmission reliability and resource adequacy requirements are met. “The plan will be based on a single utility planning concept across a larger footprint while encompassing an array of scenarios and transparency,” Aggarwal said.

To accomplish this immense task, the coalition is focusing on the principles of being different, inclusive and expedient.

“Being different means looking broadly, objectively and transparently at potential futures for the West and evaluating solutions that best support our shared goals,” said Oregon Public Utility Commission Chair Megan Decker. “If solutions align across the diverse perspectives represented in WestTEC, we can move forward to address other barriers with greater confidence.”

WestTEC is focusing on inclusivity to ensure multiple perspectives across decision-makers, policymakers, stakeholders, state regulators and Native American tribes are included in the development of the actionable plan.

“What is exciting about WestTEC, and what sets it apart from other study efforts, is that it is a solution being stood up by an extremely diverse set of energy industry sectors who will all have a voice in deciding the direction of the study,” said President and CEO of Western Power Pool Sarah Edmonds. “We hope this will promote a renewed confidence in our study results.”

Lastly, identifying a need for expediency, WestTEC established achievable planning horizons with a short-term plan spanning 10 years and a long-term plan spanning 20 years.

“Unless a plan is made for each of these time horizons, we won’t be able move into the implementation phase with a high degree of confidence,” said Aggarwal. However, he also noted the process will not replace existing transmission planning by individual utilities. Rather, it will complement them.

In alignment with their principles, WestTEC’s goals are to deliver on commercial and economic efficiency, improve affordability, support future cost allocation and strengthen visibility and coordination of the grid, in addition to being fair and unbiased to ratepayers.

“The goal is to ensure that this is a repeatable process adaptable to changing market conditions and public policy objectives,” said BPA’s Transmission Senior Vice President Richard Shaheen.

As WestTEC continues to work on a sustainable transmission plan, Hairston shared BPA is excited to offer its support in a West-wide effort. “We are excited to see the outcomes that will help shape the region to meet its clean energy future,” he said.