Electrical Energy Transmission in the West

The unprecedented population growth in the western U.S. – particularly in Arizona, Nevada and California – is resulting in increasingly higher demands for energy. In recent years, power blackouts throughout the country have highlighted concerns about reliability, the aging transmission infrastructure in the region, and power line congestion. In response, and to meet future energy demands – including a heightened focus on developing renewable energy sources – power companies, utilities, and federal agencies are now proposing to overhaul and update the western power grid that has not seen major investment/build out in over 20 years. Indeed, the Western Governors Association reported in 2006 that anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 miles of new electric transmission lines – and associated corridors – may be constructed by 2015 in the region at a price tag ranging from $8 to $15 billion.

Consequently, the upcoming years will be incredibly important as this major transmission build-out is planned and implemented in the region. Presently, there are numerous federal, state and utility-driven transmission planning processes underway that will be determining where these new power lines and corridors will be located, what natural resources will be impacted and which generation sources – coal, natural gas, wind, solar – will be connecting to the western power grid. Given that energy transmission – linking electricity generation sources to customers – is a critically important component of our western energy policy, WRA has responded by developing a new energy transmission program to influence these planning processes in order to achieve a balanced and sustainable energy policy for the West.

Transmission planning needs to be forward-thinking to bring the region to an energy policy fitting for the 21st century. Accordingly, WRA has developed a transmission planning platform to ensure that new power lines will be “smart.” In short, smart lines involve the concepts of: efficiency/distributed generation, clean energy sources and lands/wildlife protection.

First, WRA recognizes that the smartest power line is the one that is never built. Eliminating the need for new power lines can be accomplished by ensuring that energy demand is first met by maximizing investments in energy efficiency and distributed generation sources such as rooftop solar. Increasing energy efficiency and utilizing local "distributed" generation sources that don't need transmission can not only avoid the need for new power plants, but also can eliminate the need for some new transmission lines and associated corridors. Second, smart lines need to focus on tying-in clean energy sources energy such as wind and solar to reduce air pollution and combat climate change. Finally, with the vast amount of public lands and natural resources within the western U.S., smart lines must be planned, located and mitigated in a manner that protects the region’s treasured wildlife, land, air and water resources.

Of particular importance is the current “energy corridor” process whereby the Department of Energy, working with other federal and state agencies, is designating energy transmission corridors – for power lines and other energy transmission – on public lands within the 11 western states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.

For more information, please contact:
Tom Darin, Energy Transmission Attorney
Phone: 303-444-1188 x244
Email: tom@westernresources.org

Resources and Related Links:

WRA's Transmission Planning Principles

Transmission Projects:

West-wide Energy Corridor Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Get involved to protect important public lands and ensure that transmission corridors promote and facilitate a sustainable energy policy focused on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

WRA's Materials on Corridor DEIS: