Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 4791

1Standardization of Generator Interconnection 

Agreements and Procedures, Order No. 2003, 68 FR 

49845 (Aug. 19, 2003), FERC Stats. & Regs., 

Regulations Preambles ¶ 31,146 (2003) (Order No. 

2003), order on reh’g, 69 FR 15932 (Mar. 24, 2004), 

FERC Stats & Regs., Regulations Preambles ¶ 31,160 

(2004) (Order No. 2003–A), order on reh’g, 70 FR 

265 (January 4, 2005), FERC Stats & Regs., 

Regulations Preambles ¶ 31,171 (2004) (Order No. 

2003–B), reh’g pending; see also Notice Clarifying 

Compliance Procedures, 106 FERC ¶ 61,009 (2004).

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Airbus Model A319, 

A320, and A321 series airplanes, certificated 

in any category; as identified in Table 1 of 

this AD.

TABLE 1.—APPLICABILITY

Airbus ModelHaving the 

following 

Airbus 

modification 

installed in 

productionOr the following 

Airbus service 

bulletin incorporated in 

serviceBut not having the following Airbus modification installed in 

productionA319 series airplanes ....................................................................................................................... 24486 A320–21–1140 32616 

A320 series airplanes ....................................................................................................................... 20084 A320–21–1048 32616 

A321 series airplanes ....................................................................................................................... 22596 Not applicable ... 32616 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD was prompted by a report that, 

during a test of the fire extinguishing system, 

air leakage around the temperature sensor for 

the aft cargo compartment reduced the 

concentration of fire extinguishing agent to 

below the level required to suppress a fire. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent air leakage 

around the temperature sensor for the aft 

cargo compartment, which, in the event of a 

fire in the aft cargo compartment, could 

result in an insufficient concentration of fire 

extinguishing agent, and consequent inability 

of the fire extinguishing system to suppress 

the fire. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified, unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Relocation of Aft Cargo Compartment 

Temperature Sensor 

(f) Within 24 months after the effective 

date of this AD: Replace the ventilation 

extraction duct with a new duct and relocate 

the aft cargo compartment temperature 

sensor by accomplishing all of the actions 

specified in the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Service Bulletin A320–

21–1141, dated April 7, 2004. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(g) The Manager, International Branch, 

ANM–116, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested in accordance with 

the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(h) French airworthiness directive F–2004–

123, dated July 21, 2004, also addresses the 

subject of this AD.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on January 

18, 2005. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 05–1725 Filed 1–28–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission 

18 CFR Part 35 

[Docket No. RM05–4–000] 

Interconnection for Wind Energy and 

Other Alternative Technologies 

January 24, 2005.

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission (Commission) is 

proposing to amend its regulations to 

require public utilities to append to the 

standard large generator interconnection 

agreement in their open access 

transmission tariffs (OATTs) specific 

technical requirements for the 

interconnection of large wind 

generation.

DATES: Comments are due March 2, 

2005. Reply comments will be due 30 

days thereafter.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed 

electronically via the eFiling link on the 

Commission’s Web site at http://

www.ferc.gov. Commenters unable to 

file comments electronically must send 

an original and 14 copies of their 

comments to Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, Office of the Secretary, 

888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 

20426. Refer to the Comment 

Procedures section of the preamble for 

additional information on how to file 

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bruce A. Poole (Technical Information), 

Office of Markets, Tariffs and Rates, 

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 

Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502–

8468. 

G. Patrick Rooney (Technical 

Information), Office of Markets, 

Tariffs and Rates, Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission, 888 First 

Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. 

(202) 502–6205. 

P. Kumar Agarwal (Technical 

Information), Office of Markets, 

Tariffs and Rates, Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission, 888 First 

Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. 

(202) 502–8923. 

Jeffery S. Dennis (Legal Information), 

Office of the General Counsel, Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 

First Street, NE., Washington, DC 

20426. (202) 502–6027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction 

1. In Order No. 2003,1 the 

Commission adopted standard 

procedures for the interconnection of 

large generation facilities and a standard 

large generator interconnection 

agreement. The Commission required 

public utilities that own, control, or 

operate facilities for transmitting 

electric energy in interstate commerce to 

file revised Open Access Transmission 

Tariffs (OATTs) containing these 

standard provisions, and use them to 

provide interconnection service to 

generating facilities having a capacity of 

more than 20 megawatts. In Order No. 

2003–A, on rehearing, the Commission 

determined that the standard 

procedures and agreement were 

designed around the needs of traditional 

synchronous generation facilities, and 

that generators relying on nonVerDate jul<14>2003 16:55 Jan 28, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\31JAP1.SGM 31JAP1
4792 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

2A wind generator is considered nonsynchronous because it does not run at the same 

speed as a traditional generator. A non-synchronous 

generator possesses significantly different 

characteristics and responds differently to network 

disturbances.

3Order No. 2003–A at P 407, n. 86.

4 Id.

5Large wind generating plants are those with an 

output rated at 20 MW or higher at the point of 

interconnection.

6 16 U.S.C. 824d–e (2000).

7Order No. 2003–A at P 407, n. 85.

8 Id. at P 278, 407, n. 85.

9 Id. at P 407, n. 85.

10The Appendix G that was added to the LGIA 

in Order No. 2003–A and that we propose in this 

NOPR should not be confused with the Appendix 

G that the Commission originally proposed to 

include in the LGIA, which concerned 

Interconnection Guidelines. The Commission did 

not include that Appendix in the Final Rule LGIA, 

since its provisions were covered elsewhere in the 

LGIP and LGIA. See Order No. 2003 at P 673. In 

Order No. 2003–A, the Commission used the 

Appendix G label for the requirements specific to 

wind generation and perhaps other nonsynchronous technologies that we propose in this 

rulemaking.

synchronous technologies,2 such as 

wind plants, may find that a specific 

requirement is inapplicable or that a 

different approach is needed.3

Accordingly, the Commission granted 

certain clarifications, and also added a 

blank Appendix G (Requirements of 

Generators Relying on NonSynchronous Technologies) to the 

standard generator interconnection 

agreement as a placeholder for the 

inclusion of requirements specific to 

non-synchronous technologies.4 It 

appears that the only relevant nonsynchronous generator in this 

rulemaking is the wind generator, and 

thus the proposed rule would apply 

only to wind plants, although we 

request comments on whether there are 

other technologies that should also be 

subject to the rule.

2. In this Notice of Proposed 

Rulemaking (NOPR), the Commission is 

proposing standards applicable to the 

interconnection of large wind generating 

plants,5 to be included in Appendix G 

of the Large Generator Interconnection 

Agreement (LGIA). The Commission 

proposes these standards in light of its 

findings in Order No. 2003–A, noted 

above, and in response to a petition 

submitted by the American Wind 

Energy Association (AWEA) on May 20, 

2004. Specifically, and as described 

more fully below, we propose to include 

in Appendix G to the LGIA certain 

technical requirements that 

Transmission Providers must apply to 

interconnection service for wind 

generation plants that are different from 

that required of traditional synchronous 

generating plants or are now needed 

because of the increased presence of 

larger aggregated wind plants on the 

Transmission Provider’s systems. These 

requirements would be applied in 

addition to the standard interconnection 

procedures and requirements adopted 

by the Commission in Order No. 2003. 

Additionally, the Commission seeks 

comments on certain issues, including 

whether there are other nonsynchronous technologies, or other 

technologies in addition to wind, that 

should also be covered by the proposed 

Appendix G.

Background 

3. In Order No. 2003, pursuant to its 

responsibility under sections 205 and 

206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) 6 to 

remedy undue discrimination, the 

Commission required all public utilities 

that own, control, or operate facilities 

for transmitting electric energy in 

interstate commerce to append to their 

OATTs the pro forma Large Generator 

Interconnection Procedures (LGIP) and 

pro forma LGIA. To achieve greater 

standardization of interconnection 

terms and conditions, Order No. 2003 

required such public utilities to file 

revised OATTs containing the pro forma

LGIP and LGIA included in Order No. 

2003.

4. Order Nos. 2003–A and 2003–B, 

issued on rehearing, made certain 

revisions to the pro forma LGIP and 

LGIA. In Order No. 2003–A, the 

Commission clarified that certain 

provisions of the LGIP and LGIA are not 

appropriately applied to wind 

generators. The Commission stated that 

it ‘‘recognize[d] that the LGIA and LGIP 

are designed around the needs of large 

synchronous generators and that many 

generators relying on newer 

technologies may find that either a 

specific requirement is inapplicable or 

that it calls for a slightly different 

approach.’’ 7 In light of this recognition, 

the Commission clarified that LGIA 

article 5.4 (Power System Stabilizers), 

LGIA article 5.10.3 (Interconnection 

Customer’s Interconnection Facilities 

Construction) and LGIA article 9.6.1 

(Power Factor Design Criteria) would 

not be applied to wind generators.8

Additionally, the Commission noted 

that ‘‘there may be other areas of the 

LGIP and LGIA that may call for a 

slightly different approach for a 

generator relying on newer technology 

because it may have unique electrical 

characteristics.’’ 9 As a result, the 

Commission added to the LGIA a blank 

new Appendix G as a placeholder for 

requirements specific to newer 

technologies to be developed at a future 

time.10

5. On May 20, 2004, in Docket No. 

RM02–1–005, AWEA submitted a 

petition for rulemaking or, in the 

alternative, request for clarification of 

Order No. 2003–A, and a request for a 

technical conference. AWEA asked the 

Commission to adopt in Appendix G 

certain standards for the 

interconnection of wind generation 

plants. Specifically, AWEA submitted a 

proposed Appendix G that it argues 

addresses the concerns of both 

Transmission Providers and the wind 

generation industry. AWEA’s proposed 

Appendix G included a low voltage 

ride-through capability standard, which 

would allow the Transmission Provider 

to require as a condition of 

interconnection that wind generation 

facilities have the ability to continue 

operating or ‘‘ride-through’’ certain low 

voltage conditions on the transmission 

system to which they are 

interconnected. Additionally, AWEA 

proposed that the power factor design 

criteria of up to 0.95 leading/lagging be 

applied to wind generation plants, with 

certain flexibility regarding whether the 

location of the reactive support 

equipment would be at the common 

point of interconnection of all the 

generators in the plant rather than at the 

individual turbine. Further, AWEA 

proposed that we require Transmission 

Providers and wind generator 

manufacturers to participate in a formal 

process to develop, update, and improve 

the engineering models and 

specifications used in modeling wind 

plant interconnections. Finally, AWEA 

proposed to include language in 

Appendix G allowing the wind 

Interconnection Customer to ‘‘selfstudy’’ interconnection feasibility by 

entering the interconnection queue 

without providing certain power and 

load flow data, receiving certain 

information from the Transmission 

Provider, and conducting its own 

Feasibility Study. 

6. On September 24, 2004, the 

Commission held a Technical 

Conference to discuss the issues raised 

by AWEA’s petition. The goal was to 

discuss the technical requirements for 

the interconnection of wind plants and 

other alternative technologies and the 

need for specific requirements for their 

interconnection. Additionally, the 

Technical Conference considered how 

wind and other alternative generator 

technologies may respond differently to 

transmission grid disturbances and have 

different effects on the transmission 

grid. The Commission also solicited and 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 4793

11Those standards, titled Wind Power Facility 

Technical Requirements, are at http://

www.aeso.com.

12While low voltage ride-through capability is 

needed for wind plants, it is not a concern for large 

synchronous generating facilities because most of 

these facilities are equipped with automatic voltage 

control devices to increase output during low 

voltage excursions.

13Unlike synchronous generating plants, which 

generally possess SCADA capability, can respond to 

automatic generation control signals from the 

control center and are often staffed, wind generating 

plants are often remote, unmanned, and 

characterized by an unpredictable rate of change of 

output, thus making it difficult for the Transmission 

Provider to limit the output of the wind plant when 

necessary for system reliability.

received post-Technical Conference 

comments from interested persons. 

Discussion 

7. Based on our review and 

consideration of AWEA’s petition and 

the comments received at and after the 

Technical Conference, the Commission 

is proposing certain technical 

requirements for the interconnection of 

wind generating plants. The 

Commission proposes to include these 

technical requirements as Appendix G 

to the LGIA, as contemplated in Order 

No. 2003–A. The technical requirements 

we propose here are similar in certain 

respects and differ in other respects 

from the Appendix G proposed by 

AWEA in its petition for rulemaking. 

The Commission is also seeking 

comments on certain issues, as 

discussed below. Our goal is to adopt 

final technical requirements for the 

interconnection of wind plants (and 

other alternative technologies, if any) 

that recognize the special characteristics 

of wind plants, their larger size and 

increased penetration on the 

transmission system (in terms of the 

wind generating capacity’s percentage 

contribution to total system generating 

capacity), and the effects they have on 

the transmission system. This proposal 

seeks to accommodate wind plants 

while ensuring the continued reliability 

of the nation’s electric transmission 

system.

8. The Appendix G technical 

requirements for the interconnection of 

wind generation plants that we propose 

in this NOPR are not intended to be the 

sole interconnection requirements for 

wind plants. Such plants will still be 

subject to the other standard 

interconnection procedures and 

requirements adopted by the 

Commission in Order No. 2003, unless 

wind plants have been otherwise 

exempted from such procedures and 

requirements. 

9. Recently, the Commission became 

aware of the Alberta Electric System 

Operator’s adoption of technical 

standards for the interconnection of 

wind generation plants to its 

transmission system.11 The standards 

adopted by the AESO are similar to, but 

more comprehensive than, the standards 

we propose in the Appendix G in this 

NOPR.

10. The Commission is not proposing 

a transition period before the technical 

requirements in Appendix G would take 

effect. At the Technical Conference, 

however, several participants noted that 

wind turbine manufacturers have 

turbines in their inventory that do not 

have low voltage ride-through capability 

or adequate reactive power capability. 

Some participants argued that a 

transition period would be appropriate 

to accommodate this inventory. This 

proposal is designed in part to allow the 

Transmission Provider to assure 

transmission grid safety and reliability. 

For this reason, deviations should not 

be permitted unless approved by the 

Transmission Provider on a comparable 

basis. The proposal grants the 

Transmission Provider the flexibility to 

relax certain requirements if not needed 

for safety and reliability, as explained in 

more detail below. 

Low Voltage Ride-Through Standard 

11. Prior to the advent of larger wind 

plants generally consisting of multiple 

wind generation turbines, individual 

wind turbines were designed to go 

offline if there was a sudden change in 

voltage on the transmission system. 

However, now there are larger 

aggregated wind plants with a greater 

penetration level on the Transmission 

Provider’s systems in certain areas, and 

significant stability problems can occur 

on the transmission system if such large 

plants become unavailable during a low 

voltage excursion. As a result, 

Transmission Providers need large wind 

plants to remain online during lowvoltage occurrences for reliability 

reasons. 

12. The Commission is proposing to 

require that large wind plants seeking to 

interconnect to the grid demonstrate 

low voltage ride-through capability, 

unless waived by the Transmission 

Provider on a comparable and not 

unduly discriminatory basis. 

Specifically, Appendix G would require 

that ‘‘wind generating plants * * * 

demonstrate the ability to remain online during voltage disturbances up to 

the time periods and associated voltage 

levels set forth in Figure 1’’ of the 

Appendix. The required voltage levels 

would be measured at the high voltage 

side of the substation transformers.12

13. The Commission seeks comments 

on this proposed standard. Particularly, 

the Commission is interested in 

comments addressing whether it should 

adopt a low voltage ride-through 

standard at all, whether this or another 

standard is more appropriate, and 

whether this proposed standard is 

specific enough. Additionally, the 

Commission seeks comment on whether 

the voltage-time profile of the proposed 

Appendix G is appropriate or should be 

modified. 

Supervisory Control and Data 

Acquisition (SCADA) Capability 

14. Previously, Transmission 

Providers generally did not require 

wind generators to have remote 

supervisory control and data acquisition 

(SCADA) capability because of their 

small size and minimal effects on the 

transmission system. Now that there are 

more large wind plants, Transmission 

Providers may need SCADA capability 

to ensure the safety and reliability of the 

transmission system during normal, 

system emergency, and system 

contingency conditions, and to acquire 

wind facility operating data. 

15. The Commission proposes to 

require that large wind plants seeking to 

interconnect to the transmission grid 

possess SCADA capability. The 

proposed Appendix G would require 

that the wind plant install SCADA 

capability to transmit data and receive 

instructions from the Transmission 

Provider. Additionally, the proposed 

Appendix G states that the 

Transmission Provider and wind plant 

owner shall determine the SCADA 

information that is essential for the 

proposed wind plant, taking into 

account the size of the plant, its 

characteristics, location, and importance 

in maintaining generation resource 

adequacy and transmission system 

reliability in its area.13

16. The Commission seeks comments 

regarding the SCADA capability 

requirements proposed in this NOPR. 

Particularly, the Commission seeks 

comments on whether there is any basic 

essential SCADA information that large 

wind plants should be required to 

provide, and if so, what that information 

should be (such as information needed 

to determine how the plant’s maximum 

megawatt output and megawatt ramp 

rate vary over time with changes in the 

wind speed, and/or information needed 

to forecast the megawatt output of the 

plant).

Power Factor Design Criteria (Reactive 

Power) 

17. Previously, Transmission 

Providers did not require wind 

generators to have the capability to 

4794 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

14AWEA Proposed Appendix G at 5.

15See LGIP, section 2.3; see also Order No. 2003 

at P 77–84.

16See Order No. 2003 at P 99.

17 Id. at P 103.

18 Id.

19Promoting Wholesale Competition Through 

Open Access Non-Discriminatory Transmission 

Services by Public Utilities; Recovery of Stranded 

Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities,

Order No. 888, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,036 (1996) 

at 31,760–61 (Order No. 888), order on reh’g, Order 

No. 888–A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,048 (1997), 

provide reactive power because the 

facilities were generally small and had 

minimal impact on the transmission 

grid. Because of the larger size of many 

of the wind plants currently operating 

and the increased penetration of wind 

energy on the transmission system, 

Transmission Providers may need to 

require wind plants to operate within a 

specified power factor range to help 

balance the reactive power needs of the 

transmission system. 

18. The Commission is proposing to 

require that wind plants maintain a 

power factor within the range of 0.95 

leading to 0.95 lagging (as required by 

Order No. 2003), to be measured at the 

high voltage side of the substation 

transformer. The proposed Appendix G 

permits wind plants flexibility in how 

they meet the power factor requirement 

(for example, using either power 

electronics designed to supply this level 

of reactive capability or fixed and 

switched capacitors if agreed to by the 

Transmission Provider, or a 

combination of the two.) Additionally, 

the Commission proposes to allow the 

Transmission Provider to waive the 

power factor requirement for wind 

plants where such capability is not 

needed at that location or for a 

generating facility of that size, provided 

that such waiver is not unduly 

discriminatory and is offered on a 

comparable basis to similarly situated 

wind plants. Should the power factor 

requirement be waived, however, the 

interconnection agreement would be 

considered a non-conforming agreement 

under section 11.3 of the LGIP, 

requiring that it be filed with the 

Commission. The Commission believes 

that it is appropriate to permit the 

Transmission Provider to waive the 

power factor requirement for a wind 

plant if the Transmission Provider does 

not need reactive power for reliability at 

that plant’s location because, unlike a 

non-wind generator which always has 

some reactive power capability, a wind 

plant must incur an additional capital 

cost to provide this reactive power. 

Finally, we propose to require that wind 

plants have the capability to provide 

sufficient dynamic voltage support in 

order to interconnect to the 

transmission system, instead of the 

power system stabilizer and automatic 

voltage support at the generator 

excitation system, if the System Impact 

Study shows that such dynamic 

capability is necessary for system 

reliability. 

19. The Commission seeks comments 

regarding whether the proposed power 

factor range proposed should be 

increased or decreased for wind 

generation plants. Also, the Commission 

seeks input as to whether any dynamic 

(i.e., controllable) reactive capability 

should be required of wind plants as a 

condition of interconnection, and if so, 

what level of dynamic capability should 

be required. Further, the Commission 

seeks comments on the proposed waiver 

provisions for the power factor 

requirement discussed above. 

Models and Self-Study of Feasibility 

20. In its petition, AWEA proposed 

that certain variations in the 

Interconnection Study process be 

applied to the interconnection of wind 

plants. Specifically, AWEA proposed 

that Transmission Providers be required 

to ‘‘participate in a formal process for 

updating, improving, and validating the 

engineering models used for modeling 

the interconnection impacts of wind 

turbines.’’ 14 Additionally, AWEA 

proposed that wind Interconnection 

Customers be permitted to enter the 

interconnection queue and ‘‘self-study’’

the feasibility of interconnection after 

submitting an Interconnection Request 

that does not include power and load 

flow data and paying the applicable 

deposit. These wind Interconnection 

Customers should be entitled to have 

the scoping meeting with the 

Transmission Provider and receive from 

the Transmission Provider the base case 

data, according to AWEA. Following its 

self-study, the wind Interconnection 

Customer would submit an electrical 

design and turbine models sufficient to 

allow the Transmission Provider to 

conduct a System Impact Study under 

AWEA’s proposal. AWEA stated that 

these provisions were necessary because 

requiring power system and load flow 

data to be submitted with the 

Interconnection Request is impractical 

for wind plants, since the turbine 

selection and electrical design of the 

wind plant may be based on the 

outcome of the Feasibility Study and 

grid conditions at the point of 

interconnection.

21. The Commission is not proposing 

these provisions for several reasons. 

With regard to the proposal to require 

Transmission Providers to participate in 

a formal process to update and improve 

wind turbine modeling, we believe that 

such a formal process should take place 

outside the Commission, through 

industry technical groups or perhaps 

through the regional reliability councils. 

The Commission recognizes, however, 

that improvements in the way that wind 

interconnections are modeled would be 

beneficial, and we encourage the 

industry to address this issue.

22. With regard to AWEA’s self-study 

proposal, Order No. 2003 currently 

requires that a valid and complete 

Interconnection Request be on file with 

the Transmission Provider before the 

Interconnection Customer may receive 

Base Case data.15 Section 2.3 did not 

address situations where the 

Interconnection Customer might need 

access to the Base Case data before it 

could complete its Interconnection 

Request. Therefore we seek comments 

on how to balance the need of wind 

generators to self-study prior to filing a 

completed Interconnection Request with 

the need to protect this critical energy 

infrastructure information and 

commercially sensitive data against 

unwarranted disclosure.

23. Additionally, in Order No. 2003 

the Commission addressed requests that 

additional time be provided after the 

Interconnection Request is made to 

submit final design specifications.16

There, we stated that ‘‘[t]he 

Interconnection Customer should have 

its design substantially completed prior 

to submitting its Interconnection 

Request so that it does not block or 

disrupt the queue process.’’ 17 We also 

noted that Transmission Providers 

would not be able to act on an 

incomplete Interconnection Request, 

and that giving ‘‘one class of 

Interconnection Customers extra time to 

submit design specifications would be 

unfair to other Interconnection 

Customers in the queue.’’ 18 The 

Commission is not persuaded to 

propose deviations from these 

conclusions in this rulemaking.

Other Generating Technologies 

24. The Commission seeks comments 

regarding whether there are other 

generating technologies that should be 

required to comply with the specific 

technical requirements included in 

Appendix G. 

Variations From Appendix G 

25. The Commission is proposing to 

permit Transmission Providers to justify 

variations from the terms of the final 

Appendix G using the approach taken in 

Order No. 2003. In Order No. 2003, the 

Commission modified the approach 

taken in Order No. 888,19 which 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 4795

order on reh’g, Order No. 888–B, 81 FERC ¶ 61,248 

(1997), order on reh’g, Order No. 888–C, 82 FERC 

¶ 61,046 (1997), aff’d in relevant part sub nom.

Transmission Access Policy Study Group v. FERC, 

225 F.3d 667 (D.C. Cir. 2000), aff’d sub nom. New 

York v. FERC, 535 U.S. 1 (2002).

20See Order No. 2003 at P 823–24.

21See id. at P 816.

22 Id. at P 822–827; see also Order No. 2003–A at 

P 48.

23 5 CFR 1320.11 (2004).

24 Id.

25Order No. 486, Regulations Implementing the 

National Environmental Policy Act, 52 FR 47897 

(Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. & Regs. Preambles 

1986–1990 ¶ 30,783 (Dec. 10, 1987).

26 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2004).

27 18 CFR 380.4(a)(5) (2004).

28 5 U.S.C. 601–612 (2000).

allowed two types of variations. First, 

public utilities may seek variations to 

the LGIP and LGIA based on regional 

reliability requirements.20 Second, 

public utilities may argue that proposed 

changes to any OATT provision are 

‘‘consistent with or superior to’’ the 

terms of the pro forma OATT.21

Additionally, Order No. 2003 allows 

RTOs and ISOs greater flexibility in 

complying with its provisions. They 

may seek an ‘‘independent entity 

variation’’ from the pricing and nonpricing provisions of the pro forma LGIP 

and LGIA.22 The Commission intends to 

apply all three of these variation 

standards to proposed variations from 

the Appendix G the Commission finally 

adopts in this proceeding.

Information Collection Statement 

26. Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) regulations require OMB to 

approve certain information collection 

requirements imposed by agency rule.23

Comments are solicited on the 

Commission’s need for this information, 

whether the information will have 

practical utility, the accuracy of 

provided burden estimates, ways to 

enhance the quality, utility and clarity 

of the information to be collected, and 

any suggested methods for minimizing 

respondents’ burden, including the use 

of automated information techniques.

27. Public Reporting Burden:

Data collection Number of

respondents 

Number of

responses 

Hours per

response 

Total annual 

hours 

FERC–516 ....................................................................................................... 238 1 18 4,284 

Information Collection Costs: The 

Commission seeks comments on the 

costs to comply with these 

requirements. It has projected the 

annualized cost for all respondents to 

be: Annualized Capital/Startup CostsStaffing requirements to review and 

prepare an interconnection agreement = 

$642,600. (238 respondents × $150 

hourly rate × 18 hours per respondent.) 

The OMB regulations require OMB to 

approve certain information collection 

requirements imposed by agency rule.24

Accordingly, pursuant to OMB 

regulations, the Commission is 

providing notice of its proposed 

information collections to OMB.

Title: FERC–516, Electric Rate 

Schedule Filings. 

Action: Proposed Information 

Collection. 

OMB Control No.: 1902–0096. 

The applicant shall not be penalized 

for failure to respond to this collection 

of information unless the collection of 

information displays a valid OMB 

control number. 

Respondents: Business or other for 

profit. 

Frequency of Responses: One-time 

implementation. 

Necessity of Information: The 

proposed rule would revise the 

requirements contained in 18 CFR part 

35. The Commission is seeking to revise 

its standardized interconnection 

procedures and agreements to include 

wind generation plants. In particular, 

the Commission will propose that 

public utilities add to their standard 

interconnection agreements the 

technical requirements for the 

interconnection of wind generation 

plants. The proposed rule would require 

that each public utility that owns, 

operates, or controls transmission 

facilities participate in one-time filings 

incorporating the technical 

requirements into their own open access 

transmission tariffs. Internal Review: the 

Commission has assured itself, by 

means of internal review, that there is 

specific, objective support for the 

burden estimates associated with the 

information collection requirements. 

The Commission’s Office of Market, 

Tariffs and Rates will use the data 

included in filings under Section 203 

and 205 of the Federal Power to 

evaluate efforts for interconnection and 

coordination of the U.S. electric 

transmission as well as for general 

industry oversight. These information 

requirements conform to the 

Commission’s plan for efficient 

information collection, communication, 

and management within the electric 

power industry. Interested persons may 

obtain information on the reporting 

requirements by contacting: Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 

First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, 

Attention: Michael Miller, Office of the 

Executive Director, phone: (202) 502–

8415, fax: (202) 273–0873, e-mail: 

michael.miller@ferc.gov. Comments on 

the proposed requirements of the 

subject rule may also be sent to the 

Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, Office of Management and 

Budget, Washington, DC 20503, 

Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission, phone: 

(202) 395–4650. 

Environmental Analysis 

28. The Commission is required to 

prepare an Environmental Assessment 

or an Environmental Impact Statement 

for any action that may have a 

significant adverse effect on the human 

environment.25 The Commission has 

categorically excluded certain actions 

from this requirement as not having a 

significant effect on the human 

environment. Included in the exclusion 

are rules that are clarifying, corrective, 

or procedural, or that do not 

substantially change the effect of the 

regulations being amended.26 The 

exclusion also includes information 

gathering, analysis, and 

dissemination.27 The rules proposed in 

this NOPR would update and clarify the 

application of the Commission’s 

standard interconnection requirements 

to wind generation plants. Further, this 

NOPR involves information gathering, 

analysis, and dissemination regarding 

the interconnection of wind generators. 

Therefore, this NOPR falls within the 

categorical exemptions provided in the 

Commission’s Regulations, and as a 

result neither an environmental impact 

statement nor an environmental 

assessment is required. Additionally, we 

note that this proposed rule will help 

the development and interconnection of 

wind plants, eliminating the airborne 

and other emissions that would result 

from constructing fossil fuel generating 

plants instead.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification 

29. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 

1980 (RFA) 28 generally requires a 

description and analysis of final rules 

4796 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

29The RFA definition of ‘‘small entity’’ refers to 

the definition provided in the Small Business Act, 

which defines a ‘‘small business concern’’ as a 

business that is independently owned and operated 

and that is not dominant in its field of operation. 

15 U.S.C. 632 (2000). The Small Business Size 

Standards component of the North American 

Industry Classification System defines a small 

electric utility as one that, including its affiliates, 

is primarily engaged in the generation, 

transmission, and/or distribution of electric energy 

for sale and whose total electric output for the 

preceding fiscal years did not exceed 4 million 

MWh. 13 CFR 121.201 (Section 22, Utilities, North 

American Industry Classification System, NAICS) 

(2004)).

that will have significant economic 

impact on a substantial number of small 

entities.29 The Commission is not 

required to make such analyses if a rule 

would not have such an effect.

30. The Commission does not believe 

that this proposed rule would have such 

an impact on small entities. Most filing 

companies subject to the Commission’s 

jurisdiction do not fall within the RFA’s 

definition of a small entity. Further, the 

filing requirements contain standard 

generator interconnection procedures 

and agreement for interconnecting 

generators larger than 20 MW, which 

exceeds the threshold of the Small 

Business Size Standard of NAICS. 

Therefore, the Commission certifies that 

this rule will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities. 

Comment Procedures 

31. The Commission invites 

comments on the matters and proposals 

in this notice, including any related 

matters or alternative proposals that 

commenters may wish to discuss. 

Comments are due March 2, 2005. Reply 

comments will be due 30 days 

thereafter. Comments must refer to 

Docket No. RM05–4–000, and must 

include the commenters’ name, the 

organization represented, if applicable, 

and address. 

32. Comments may be filed 

electronically via the eFiling link on the 

Commission’s Web site at http://

www.ferc.gov. The Commission accepts 

most standard word processing formats 

and commenters may attach additional 

files with supporting information in 

certain other file formats. Commenters 

filing electronically do not need to make 

a paper filing. Commenters that are not 

able to file comments electronically 

must send an original and 14 copies of 

their comments to Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission, Office of the 

Secretary, 888 First Street, NE., 

Washington, DC 20426. 

33. All comments will be placed in 

the Commission’s public files and may 

be viewed, printed, or downloaded 

remotely as described in the Document 

Availability section below. Commenters 

on this proposal are not required to 

serve copies of their comments on other 

commenters. 

Document Availability 

34. In addition to publishing the full 

text of this document in the Federal 

Register, the Commission provides all 

interested persons an opportunity to 

view and/or print the contents of this 

document via the Internet through 

FERC’s home page (http://www.ferc.gov) 

and in FERC’s Public Reference Room 

during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. 

to 5 p.m. eastern time) at 888 First 

Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 

20426. 

35. From FERC’s home page on the 

Internet, this information is available in 

the Commission’s document 

management system, eLibrary. The full 

text of this document is available on 

eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word 

format for viewing, printing, and/or 

downloading. To access this document 

in eLibrary, type the docket number 

excluding the last three digits of this 

document in the docket number field. 

36. User assistance is available for 

eLibrary and the FERC’s Web site during 

normal business hours. For assistance, 

please contact FERC Online Support at 

1–866–208–3676 (toll free) or 202–502–

6652 (e-mail at 

FERCOnlineSupport@FERC.gov), or the 

Public Reference Room at 202–502–

8371, TTY 202–502–8659 (e-mail at 

public.referenceroom@ferc.gov).

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 35 

Electric power rates, Electric utilities.

By direction of the Commission. 

Linda Mitry, 

Deputy Secretary.

In consideration of the foregoing, the 

Commission proposes to revise part 35, 

Chapter I, Title 18 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations, as follows.

PART 35—FILING OF RATE 

SCHEDULES 

1. The authority citation for part 35 

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 16 U.S.C. 791a–825r, 2601–

2645; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 7101–7352.

2. In § 35.28, paragraph (f)(1) is 

revised to read as follows:

§ 35.28 Non-discriminatory open access 

transmission tariff.

* * * * *

(f) Standard generator 

interconnection procedures and 

agreements. 

(1) Every public utility that is 

required to have on file a nondiscriminatory open access transmission 

tariff under this section must amend 

such tariff by adding the standard 

interconnection procedures and 

agreement contained in Order No. 2003, 

FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,146 (Final Rule 

on Generator Interconnection), as 

amended by the Commission in Order 

No. ll, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ ll

(Final Rule on Interconnection for Wind 

Energy and Other Alternative 

Technologies), or such other 

interconnection procedures and 

agreement as may be approved by the 

Commission consistent with the Final 

Rule on Generator Interconnection. 

(i) The amendment to implement the 

Final Rule on Generator Interconnection 

required by the preceding subsection 

must be filed no later than January 20, 

2004. 

(ii) The amendment to implement the 

Final Rule on Interconnection for Wind 

Energy and other Alternative 

Technologies required by the preceding 

subsection must be filed no later than 

[60 days after publication of final rule]. 

(iii) Any public utility that seeks a 

deviation from the standard 

interconnection procedures and 

agreement contained in Order No. 2003, 

FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,146 (Final Rule 

on Generator Interconnection), as 

amended by the Commission in Order 

No. ll, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ ll

(Final Rule on Interconnection for Wind 

Energy and Other Alternative 

Technologies), must demonstrate that 

the deviation is consistent with the 

principles of the Final Rule on 

Generator Interconnection.

* * * * *

[Note: The attachments will not be published 

in the Code of Federal Regulations]

Appendix G—Interconnection 

Requirements for Wind Generators 

Appendix G sets forth additional 

requirements and provisions specific to wind 

generating plants. 

A. Standards Applicable to Wind Generators 

i. Low Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) 

Standard 

Wind generating plants shall demonstrate 

the ability to remain online during voltage 

disturbances up to the time periods and 

associated voltage levels set forth in Figure 

1, below. The requirements apply to voltage 

measured at the high voltage side of the wind 

plant substation transformer(s). The figure 

shows the ratio of actual to nominal voltage 

(on the vertical axis) over time (on the 

horizontal axis). Before time 0.0, the voltage 

at the transformer is the nominal voltage. At 

time 0.0, the voltage drops. If the voltage 

remains at a level greater than 15 percent of 

the nominal voltage for a period that does not 

exceed 0.625 seconds, the plant must stay 

online. Further, if the voltage returns to 90 

percent of the nominal voltage within 3 

seconds of the beginning of the voltage drop 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 19 / Monday, January 31, 2005 / Proposed Rules 4797

(with the voltage at any given time never 

falling below the minimum voltage indicated 

by the solid line in Figure 1), the plant must 

stay online. The Interconnection Customer 

may not disable low voltage ride-through 

equipment while the wind plant is in 

operation.

Two key features of this proposed 

regulation are: 

1. A wind generating plant must have 

LVRT capability down to 15 percent of the 

rated line voltage for 0.625 seconds; 

2. A wind generating plant must be able to 

operate continuously at 90 percent of the 

rated line voltage, measured at the high 

voltage side of the wind plant substation 

transformer(s). 

The wind generating plant may ask the 

Transmission Provider for a variation of the 

parameters of this regulation, and the 

Transmission Provider may agree to such a 

variation provided it does so on a comparable 

and not unduly discriminatory basis among 

wind generators. The Transmission Provider 

may waive the low voltage ride-through 

requirement on a comparable and not unduly 

discriminatory basis for all wind plants.

ii. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition 

(SCADA) Capability 

The wind plant shall provide SCADA 

capability to transmit data and receive 

instructions from the Transmission Provider. 

The Transmission Provider and the wind 

plant Interconnection Customer shall 

determine what SCADA information is 

essential for the proposed wind plant, taking 

into account the size of the plant, its 

characteristics, location, and importance in 

maintaining generation resource adequacy 

and transmission system reliability in its 

area. 

iii. Power Factor Design Criteria (Reactive 

Power) 

A wind plant shall maintain a power factor 

within the range of 0.95 leading to 0.95 

lagging, measured at the high voltage side of 

the wind plant substation transformer(s). The 

power factor range requirement can be met 

by using, for example, power electronics 

designed to supply this level of reactive 

capability (taking into account any 

limitations due to voltage level, real power 

output, etc.) or fixed and switched capacitors 

if agreed to by the Transmission Provider, or 

a combination of the two. The 

Interconnection Customer shall not disable 

power factor equipment while the wind plant 

is in operation. Wind plants shall also be able 

to provide sufficient dynamic voltage support 

in lieu of the power system stabilizer and 

automatic voltage regulation at the generator 

excitation system if the Interconnection 

System Impact Study shows this to be 

required for system reliability. 

The Transmission Provider may agree to 

waive or defer compliance with the reactive 

power standard. However, any such waiver 

or exemption must be considered a nonconforming agreement pursuant to section 

11.3 of the LGIP.

[FR Doc. 05–1693 Filed 1–28–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 

Bureau 

27 CFR Part 9 

[Notice No. 30] 

RIN 1513–AA67 

Proposed Expansion of the Russian 

River Valley Viticultural Area (2003R–

144T)

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and 

Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax 

and Trade Bureau has received a 

petition proposing the expansion of the 

existing Russian River Valley 

viticultural area in Sonoma County, 

California. The proposed 30,200-acre 

expansion would increase the size of 

this viticultural area to 126,200 acres. 

We designate viticultural areas to allow 

vintners to better describe the origin of 

their wines and to allow consumers to 

better identify wines they may 

purchase. We invite comments on this 

proposed amendment to our regulations.

DATES: We must receive written 

comments on or before April 1, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments to 

any of the following addresses: 

• Chief, Regulations and Procedures 

Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and 

Trade Bureau, Attn: Notice No. 30, P.O. 

Box 14412, Washington, DC 20044–

4412. 

• 202–927–8525 (facsimile). 

• nprm@ttb.gov (e-mail). 

• http://www.ttb.gov/alcohol/rules/

index.htm. An online comment form is 

posted with this notice on our Web site. 

• http://www.regulations.gov (Federal 

e-rulemaking portal; follow instructions 

for submitting comments). 

You may view copies of this notice, 

the petition, the appropriate maps, and 

any comments we receive about this 

proposal by appointment at the TTB 

Library, 1310 G Street, NW., 

Washington, DC 20220. To make an 

appointment, call 202–927–2400. You 

may also access copies of the notice and 

comments online at http://www.ttb.gov/

alcohol/rules/index.htm.

See the Public Participation section of 

this notice for specific instructions and 


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