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TransmissionWestern Grid GroupThe Western Grid Group ("WGG," formerly known as West Wind Wires) works in the Western Interconnection to expand transmission access for wind, solar geothermal and other clean, renewable energy technologies, and to help utilities understand the value of these technologies as generating resources. Since its founding in 2003, West Wind Wires has worked to develop transmission and procurement policies that support large-scale utilization of renewables and efficiency, with emphasis on wind power. Now, emerging climate goals make faster development of all low-carbon technologies a high priority. With a new name, Western Grid Group will expand its efforts to win access for solar, geothermal and wind generation, for demand-side and efficiency resources, and for proper consideration of carbon targets in procurement. The environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy generation are well recognized, and the Western United States is blessed with high-quality renewable energy resources dispersed throughout its subregions. The public and policymakers in most states are increasingly aware of the pollution and health impacts, crop damage, and climate change impacts of fossil fuel plants and are demanding more renewable resources from their electric utilities or merchant plants. However, the renewable energy industry faces significant challenges in bringing its benefits to markets. The best resources are typically located far from most urban and suburban load centers. The transmission systems built to bring coal and hydro power to load centers like Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles were not designed and are not operated to accommodate large-scale renewable energy production. Rules governing the access and use of this transmission system and planning paradigms do not yet provide a level playing field on which wind, solar and other renewable technologies can compete with other generating resources. WGG represents wind interests in regional transmission forums, WAPA, BPA and state commission proceedings, and before utility groups. Current policy tasks include long-term planning to expand the western grid; and advocating more efficient use of existing transmission capacity. Current technical tasks include better interconnection studies, environmental impacts analysis of coal and wind integration, regional transmission planning metrics, capacity factor calculations, and wind data collection. The Western Grid Group is currently a project of Connected Organizations for a Responsible Economy and works closely with the Interwest Energy Alliance and other regional organizations in the West, including CEERT and RNP. For more information on WGG and its activities, contact:
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