Overview
With the anticipated integration of large volumes of wind generation and potential impacts from greenhouse gas legislation, the evaluation of large-scale transmission proposals is an increasingly complex process with great implications for the efficiency of the power system. While federal policy aims to facilitate needed investment, transmission siting and permitting is receiving increased scrutiny at state and local levels. Bates White uses sophisticated analytical tools to evaluate proposed transmission projects, including impacts on generation asset utilization, locational marginal prices, and the value of financial transmission rights. We assist project proponents and regulators in evaluating the benefits of proposed transmission projects relative to both cost and other transmission and nontransmission alternatives.
Selected Work
- On behalf of NRG Energy, Inc. and Calpine Corporation, conducted an assessment of the economic support for a proposed transmission line serving Houston, and potential impacts on market competition and investment incentives.
- Retained by the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff to review, analyze and report on Entergy Mississippi’s Transmission and Distribution Plans.
- Evaluated technical aspects of the proposed spin-merge of Entergy’s transmission assets to ITC Holdings Corp., and advised the MPSC on alternative paths to achieve the same planning and operational excellence claimed to be achievable only through the proposed transaction.
- Expert witness in the independent reliability needs assessment and economic impact analysis for the proposed 765kV Potomac Allegheny Transmission Highline for the Public Utility Commission of West Virginia.
- Served as expert witness appearing in licensing proceedings of the New York Public Service Commission with respect to the application of New York Regional Interconnect, Inc. to construct and maintain a 190-mile, 1,200-MW HVDC transmission line. The main focus of the testimony was the inferiority of energy efficiency and demand-response programs as a fully equivalent alternative to the proposed transmission line, and the line’s ability to bring upstate NY wind generation to the Hudson Valley and NYC.
- Managed the independent reliability needs assessment of the proposed 265-mile 502 Junction-Mt. Storm-Meadow Brook-Loudoun 500 kV Transmission Line for the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
- Supported a major wind project developer in the evaluation of transmission options to wheel several hundred megawatts from Northern Baja California, México, to California utilities.
- Testified in the permitting of Texas/Northeast México’s first high voltage direct current open access transmission interconnection.
- Carried out a due diligence review of transmission-related risk for a wind electric generation project owned by multiple remote industrial off-takers.
- Led an independent due diligence analysis of the Interim Financial Model supporting the non-recourse financing of a 112-MW wind electric project in Oaxaca, México.
- Developed a GIS-based project-siting methodology for utility-scale solar photovoltaic generation facilities.
- Provided consulting services related to RTO/ISO market operations including PJM, MISO, CAISO, and ERCOT.