WIRAB/SPSC submitted comments to the Western Planning Region Group (California ISO, ColumbiaGrid, Northern Tier, and WestConnect) on its proposed Interregional Transmission Planning Coordination (ITPC) Procedures. The comments go beyond recommending improvements to the proposed ITPC Procedures and make specific recommendations…
This report begins an exploration of potential new electricity trading patterns in the Western Interconnection over the next ten years as a result of the changing generation mix. Higher penetrations of solar generation will have a noticeable effect on daily…
This report explores a modular approach to multi-state compliance with the EPA’s Clean Power Plan. Under this approach individual states would develop their own state compliance plans and meet their own state targets, but would develop portions of their plans…
This report concerns the issue of methane leakage during the life cycle of natural gas-fired power generation. Methane leakage is an important issue because methane is a greenhouse gas (GHG) of much greater global warming potential than carbon dioxide (as…
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) are, and will continue to be, a growing component of WECC resources. Historically, new facility investment in distribution systems has been for load growth; more recently, investment in distribution systems has expanded to include DER (on…
This report documents the assumptions in four planning scenarios developed in consultation with an SPSC modeling work group. These scenarios illustrate future state-level resource mixes that could result from strategies that state may employ to comply with the Clean Power…
These reports develop a new methodology for calculating transmission path transfer capabilities that better reflect actual system operating conditions. The new methodology would allow for more active management of path flows by automating the path rating process and using data…