Document ID: FERC-2011-0295-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Meetings: Commission Staff, Technical Conferences
Posted Date: 2011-03-01T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11238-11239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4416]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Notice of Technical Conference

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                                                          Docket No.
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Priority Rights to New Participant-Funded                    AD11-11-000
 Transmission.......................................
Alta Wind I, LLC....................................         EL10-62-000
Alta Wind II, LLC...................................  ..................
Alta Wind III, LLC..................................  ..................
Alta Wind IV, LLC...................................  ..................
Alta Wind V, LLC....................................  ..................
Alta Wind VI, LLC...................................  ..................
Alta Wind VII, LLC..................................  ..................
Alta Wind VIII, LLC.................................  ..................
Alta Windpower Development, LLC.....................  ..................
TGP Development Company, LLC........................  ..................
Puget Sound Energy, Inc.............................         EL10-72-001
Terra-Gen Dixie Valley, LLC, TGP Dixie Development           EL10-29-002
 Company, LLC, and New York Canyon, LLC.............
Green Borders Geothermal, LLC v. Terra-Gen Dixie             EL10-36-002
 Valley, LLC........................................
Terra-Gen Dixie Valley, LLC.........................       ER11-2127-001
Northern Pass Transmission, LLC.....................       ER11-2377-000
Milford Wind Corridor Phase I, LLC..................          RC11-2-000
Cedar Creek Wind Energy, LLC........................          RC11-1-000
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    Take notice that Commission Staff will convene a technical 
conference in the above-referenced proceeding on Tuesday, March 15, 
2011, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST), in the Commission Meeting Room at 
the offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First 
Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Members of the Commission may attend 
the conference which will also be open for the public to attend. 
Advance registration is not required.

[[Page 11239]]

    Those interested in speaking at the conference should notify the 
Commission by close of business February 28, 2011 by completing an 
online form describing the topics that they wish to address: https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/registration/rights-03-15-speaker-form.asp. Due 
to time constraints, we may not be able to accommodate all those 
interested in speaking. The Commission will issue a subsequent notice 
that will provide the detailed agenda, including panel speakers.
    The purpose of the conference is to consider issues related to the 
ownership of and priority access rights to new transmission projects. 
The electric industry has evolved since Order No. 888 was adopted. New 
business models in addition to traditional vertically-integrated 
utilities have emerged for developing, owning, and operating electric 
transmission infrastructure. Several of these models have been the 
subject of petitions before the Commission. For example, one such model 
entails the owner of the project seeking priority access to the 
transmission capacity it develops. The Commission would like to explore 
issues related to these new transmission infrastructure ownership 
models. Conference participants should be prepared to address the topic 
in at least one of two contexts: independent and/or merchant 
transmission,\1\ and generator lead lines.\2\
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    \1\ See, e.g., Chinook Power Transmission, LLC, 126 FERC ] 
61,134 (2009).
    \2\ See, e.g., Milford Wind Corridor, LLC, 129 FERC ] 61,149 
(2009).
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    With respect to independent and/or merchant transmission, 
participants should be prepared to address how the economics of a 
proposed project are affected by the Commission's current affiliate 
rules and pricing structures (e.g., cost-based or negotiated rates). 
Participants also should be prepared to address: the need for and 
appropriate application of priority access mechanisms, such as open 
seasons and anchor shipper/tenant arrangements; how these can be 
designed consistent with the Commission's open access principles; and 
whether alternative mechanisms should be considered.
    With respect to generator lead lines, participants should be 
prepared to address the nature of these lines and the application of 
the Commission's open access policies as they relate to these lines.
    In either context, participants should be prepared to address the 
Commission's policies with respect to the treatment of affiliates, the 
implications of various project ownership structures, and the criteria 
employed for justifying priority allocation of capacity in new or 
expanded transmission facilities.
    Further, participants should be prepared to identify and discuss 
what an appropriate balance is between the Commission's policies on 
open access and non-discriminatory treatment, on the one hand, and the 
needs of developers of the facilities on the other hand. Participants 
are encouraged to come prepared to propose and discuss regulatory 
alternatives that are consistent with the Commission's statutory 
responsibility to ensure that rates, terms, and conditions of service 
are just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory.
    The discussions at the conference may address matters at issue in 
the following Commission proceedings that are either pending or within 
their rehearing period:
    Alta Wind I, LLC et al., Docket No. EL10-62-000;
    Puget Sound Energy, Inc.; EL10-72-001;
    Terra-Gen Dixie Valley, LLC, Docket No. EL10-29-002;
    Green Borders Geothermal, LLC v. Terra-Gen Dixie Valley, LLC, 
Docket No. EL10-36-002;
    Terra-Gen Dixie Valley, LLC, Docket No. ER11-2127-001;
    Northern Pass Transmission, LLC, Docket No. ER11-2377-000;
    Milford Wind Corridor Phase I, LLC, Docket No. RC11-2-000;
    Cedar Creek Wind Energy, LLC, Docket No. RC11-1-000.
    This conference will be transcribed. Transcripts will be available 
immediately for a fee from Ace Reporting Company (202-347-3700 or 1-
800-336-6646). A free Webcast of the technical conference in this 
proceeding is also available. Anyone with Internet access interested in 
viewing this conference can do so by navigating to www.ferc.gov's 
Calendar of Events and locating this event in the Calendar. The event 
will contain a link to its Webcast. The Capitol Connection provides 
technical support for the Webcasts and offers the option of listening 
to the conferences via phone-bridge for a fee. If you have any 
questions, visit http://www.CapitolConnection.org or call (703) 993-
3100.
    FERC conferences are accessible under section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations please 
send an e-mail to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free (866) 208-
3372 (voice) or (202) 502-8659 (TTY), or send a fax to (202) 208-2106 
with the requested accommodations.
    For further information please contact Becky Robinson at (202) 502-
8868 or Becky.Robinson@ferc.gov; or Pierson Stoecklein at (202) 502-
6372 or Pierson.Stoecklein@ferc.gov.

    Dated: February 22, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-4416 Filed 2-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P