SPP approves $545M in transmission upgrades
Southwest Power Pool approved Transmission Expansion Plan Report that includes projects in 8 states, worth approx. $545 M, to construct over the next 6 years.
USA: Southwest Power Pool’s Board of Directors approved a 2020 SPP Transmission Expansion Plan Report that includes 78 projects in eight states worth approximately $545 M to construct over the next six years.
Of the 78 transmission upgrades approved by SPP’s board, $487 M are new projects while $57 M were upgrades previously covered in a notification to construct (NTC) that was modified last year or were included in a conditional NTC, which SPP uses to request a refined cost estimate for an upgrade without directing the transmission owner to construct any facilities.
Last year, SPP members completed 39 transmission system upgrades in eight states, at an estimated cost of $190 M.
SPP staff also presented an Electric Storage Resources (ESR) white paper, which noted that batteries and other storage projects can offer “an alternative to traditional transmission facilities” capable of resolving short-term reliability issues such as voltage support and congestion.
SPP currently considers storage resources on its system only as generators, and there is no estimate of how much money could be saved through a more flexible approach. A spokesperson told Utility Dive that SPP is establishing a steering committee to “delve more deeply into some of these areas.”
Source: Utility Dive
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