Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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Energy Updates for Central Maryland
  • Sandra S. Patty
  • PPRP - Manager, Transmission Projects




  • Sugarloaf Citizen's Association Annual Meeting
  • April 28, 2007



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Power Plant Licensing in Maryland
  • Regulation of Power Plants and Transmission Lines through the Public Service Commission’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) process


  • Broad Regulatory Authority encompassing virtually all issues impacted by power plant  and transmission line development, as well as major permits


  • Provides a formal judicial forum for the comprehensive review of all issues related to siting, construction, and operation in a one-stop format


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"PJM Interconnection"
  • PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization that operates in the mid-Atlantic region, plays a vital role in the U.S. electric power system
    • Ensures the reliability of the electric power supply system in 13 states and the District of Columbia
    • Operates an efficient, effective wholesale electricity market
    • Manages a long-term regional electric transmission planning process to maintain the reliability of the power supply system
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What Drives Transmission Development?
  • Reliability Criteria
    • North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC)
    • Regional reliability council criteria
    • Local transmission owner reliability criteria


  • Generation Retirement
    • As generation retires the transmission system may need to be reinforced to move power into an area – load deliverability


  • Generation Additions
    • New sources of generation need to be able to be delivered to the larger grid – generation interconnections


  • Transmission Service Requests
    • Request to move power from one area of the grid to another area
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Congestion and Reliability
  • Eastern PJM faces 2 significant problems
    • Transmission congestion (current)
    • Inadequate reliability (within 3 to 5 years)


  • Transmission congestion occurs when low-cost generation cannot be delivered to load centers due to insufficient transmission capacity
    • This is a west-to-east problem
    • Results in increased costs to Maryland consumers (2006 Bedington-Black Oak congestion was $492 million)


  • Reliability in Eastern PJM is currently adequate, but is anticipated to deteriorate in the next few years without west-to-east transmission upgrades and/or new plant construction in Eastern PJM
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New Major Transmission Upgrade Plans in
Maryland and District of Columbia
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Planned Projects
  • Allegheny
    • Doubs-Dickerson
    • Urbana

  • Allegheny and AEP Joint Venture
    • Proposed 765 kV line from John Amos Power Plant, WV to Kemptown, MD


  • PEPCO Holdings
    • Dickerson-Quince Orchard

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Sugarloaf Area
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National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors (NIETCs)
  • FERC is given authority under limited circumstances to issue permits related to NIETCs
  • Limited circumstances:
    • Facilities located in states that do not have siting authority or state law precludes consideration of interstate benefits


    • Applicant does not qualify to apply for siting approval in state because applicant does not serve end-use customers in that state


    • State entity with siting authority withholds approval of facilities for more than one year after application is filed


    • State conditions proposal in such manner that will not significantly reduce transmission congestion or will not be economically feasible


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Mid-Atlantic Area National Corridor (Draft)
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PPRP’S New Tools
  • Public participation programs
    • Web IQ

  • Visual impact analysis
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Visual Impact Analysis
  • DNR has a new GIS tool for viewshed analysis
    • Collaboration with EarthData and Frederick County


    • Examines geospatial data


    • Creates 3D visualizations and modeling of project areas


    • Complete with natural and cultural features


    • Can incorporate existing or new data (including elevation) to:
      • Look into and around a site
      • “Fly through” an area or corridor, or
      • Observe surroundings from a specific location
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Sugarloaf Viewshed Study – South Transmission Route
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Viewshed Analysis – Observer Locations
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For more information….