Document ID: FERC-2014-1614-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Technical Conferences: Environmental Regulations and Electric Reliability, Wholesale Electricity Markets, and Energy Infrastructure
Posted Date: 2014-12-23T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77001-77002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29950]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD15-4-000]

Technical Conference on Environmental Regulations and Electric 
Reliability, Wholesale Electricity Markets, and Energy Infrastructure; 
Notice of Technical Conferences

    Take notice that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) will hold a series of technical conferences to discuss 
implications of compliance approaches to the Clean Power Plan proposed 
rule, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on June 2, 
2014.\1\ In particular, the technical conferences will focus on issues 
related to electric reliability, wholesale electric markets and 
operations, and energy infrastructure. The Commission will hold a 
National Overview technical conference on February 19, 2015, from 
approximately 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room at 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. Following the National Overview technical 
conference, the Commission will hold three regional technical 
conferences, on dates to be announced, in the following cities:
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    \1\ Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary 
Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 79 FR 34,830 (June 18, 2014).
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    Eastern Region,\2\ Washington, DC
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    \2\ For purposes of this conference, the Eastern Region includes 
the following Commission-approved Order No. 1000 planning regions: 
ISO New England, Inc. (ISO-NE), PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM), New 
York Independent System Operator (NYISO), Southeastern Regional 
Transmission Planning (SERTP), South Carolina Regional Transmission 
Planning (SCRTP), and Florida Reliability Coordinating Council 
(FRCC). This region also includes the Northern Maine Independent 
System Administrator (NMISA).
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    Central Region,\3\ St. Louis, MO
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    \3\ For purposes of this conference, the Central Region includes 
the following Commission-approved Order No. 1000 planning regions: 
Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. (MISO) and Southwest 
Power Pool (SPP). (continued . . .)
    This region also includes the Electric Reliability Council of 
Texas (ERCOT).
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    Western Region,\4\ Denver, CO
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    \4\ For purposes of this conference, the Western Region includes 
all the areas with the Western Interconnection, including the 
California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
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    The National Overview technical conference will be Commission-led. 
The regional technical conferences will be staff-led. Commission 
members may participate in the regional technical conferences.
    State, regional and/or federal plans for compliance with the 
proposed Clean Power Plan may impact FERC-jurisdictional markets, grid 
operations, and infrastructure. The technical conferences will provide 
a forum for interested persons to discuss how to address any issues 
concerning the reliability of the power grid and the efficient 
operation of wholesale electric markets that may arise in the context 
of potential state and regional compliance approaches to EPA's Clean 
Power Plan. Additionally, the technical conferences will provide an 
opportunity to discuss how compliance scenarios may impact existing 
infrastructure and drive the need for additional infrastructure, 
especially new electric transmission and natural gas pipeline 
facilities, and whether there are regulatory barriers that need to be 
addressed, and by whom, to ensure the timely development of those 
facilities.
    The National Overview technical conference will include discussion 
of the following overarching topics: (1) Whether industry participants 
(state utility and environmental regulators, regulated entities, etc.) 
have the appropriate tools to identify reliability and/or market issues 
that may arise; (2) potential strategies for compliance with the EPA 
regulations and coordination with FERC-jurisdictional wholesale and 
interstate markets; and (3) how relevant planning entities, industry, 
and states coordinate reliability and infrastructure planning processes 
with state and/or regional environmental compliance efforts to ensure 
the adequate development of new infrastructure and to manage any 
potential reliability and operational impacts of proposed compliance 
plans.
    Each of the three regional conferences will include discussion of 
the following topics: (1) Potential reliability impacts in each region 
under various compliance approaches; (2) potential impacts on power 
system operations and generator dispatch in each region under various 
compliance approaches; and (3) potential impact on each region's 
current or expected infrastructure (electric transmission, natural gas 
pipelines, generation, etc.) to address compliance with the proposed 
rule, and additional infrastructure that may be required.
    Subsequent notices will be issued detailing the specific agenda and 
topics

[[Page 77002]]

for discussion at the National Overview technical conference, and the 
date, time, venue and specific agenda and topics for discussion at each 
regional technical conference. Those interested in attending the 
National Overview conference are encouraged to register by close of 
business, February 13, 2015. You may register at the following Web 
page: https://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/registration/02-19-15-form.asp. 
Subsequent notices will provide details on registration for the 
regional technical conferences.
    Information on the conferences will also be posted on the Calendar 
of Events on the Commission's Web site, http://www.ferc.gov, prior to 
the conferences. The National Overview technical conference will also 
be Webcast and transcribed. Anyone with Internet access who desires to 
listen to this event can do so by navigating to the Calendar of Events 
at www.ferc.gov and locating this event in the Calendar. The event will 
contain a link to the webcast. The Capitol Connection provides 
technical support for webcasts and offers the option of listening to 
the meeting via phone-bridge for a fee. If you have any questions, 
visit www.CapitolConnection.org or call 703-993-3100. Transcripts of 
the technical conference will be available for a fee from Ace-Federal 
Reporters, Inc. (202-347-3700 or 1-800-336-6646).
    Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations, please 
send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-
3372 (voice) or 202-208-1659 (TTY), or send a FAX to 202-208-2106 with 
the required accommodations.
    For more information about the technical conferences, please 
contact:

Logistical Information, Sarah McKinley, Office of External Affairs, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, 
DC 20426, (202) 502-8368, sarah.mckinley@ferc.gov.
Legal Information, Alan Rukin, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8502, 
alan.rukin@ferc.gov.
Technical Information, Matthew Jentgen, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8725, 
matthew.jentgen@ferc.gov.
Technical Information, Michael Gildea, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, (202) 502-8420, 
michael.gildea@ferc.gov.

     Dated: December 9, 2014.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-29950 Filed 12-22-14; 8:45 am]
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