Western helicopter "buzzes" wind farms to test radar technologies
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| Western's Bell 407 helicopter out of Huron, S.D., flies in and around wind farms to test radar technologies and how well they limit interference from the turbines. |
Western recently participated in a study to limit any potential impact wind farms may have on radar systems run by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
On May 2 and 3, Western’s Huron-based Bell 407 helicopter in South Dakota flew numerous test patterns over three wind farms in Minnesota to test technology designed to “clear up” the radar signal in and around wind farms.
Read more at Western's press release.
Montana schools win national student energy efficiency competition
A team of five schools from Carter County, Mont., has won the America’s Home Energy Education Challenge, a national student competition designed to encourage students and their families to take action to start saving money by saving energy.
The Montana team was supported by Southeast Electric Cooperative, based in Ekalaka, Mont. Marlene Waterland of Southeast Electric coordinated the program and provided training for each of the schools. Western contributed to the effort by providing a lighting efficiency display and infrared cameras through the Equipment Loan Program.
Read more in Western's blog.
FERC, NERC release 2011 southwest power outage findings
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corporation released the findings and recommendations for the Sept. 8, 2011, southwest power outage. See the following information on FERC's web site:
Administrator moves to DOE field office
Western's Administrator Tim Meeks has taken a short-term assignment at the Department of Energy's Golden Field Office in Golden, Colo. Chief Operating Officer Tony Montoya is the acting Administrator.
"Western's mission remains vital to our customers and the Nation," said Montoya. "We will keep focused on accomplishing our mission of marketing and delivering clean, renewable, reliable, cost-based Federal hydroelectric power and related services."
Western: Designed to serve
Western’s Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report is now available. The publication documents Western’s accomplishments as well as its 2011 financial statements.
This year’s theme, “Designed to Serve,” demonstrates how Western employees are dedicated to delivering clean, reliable, cost-based energy to customers, who in turn, keep the lights on for millions of Americans with low-cost, reliable power.
“Our Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report highlights one of the tenets that make us particularly proud and equally humble – we are designed to serve,” said Administrator Tim Meeks.
Awarded for outstanding safety practices
American Public Power Association presented Western with its Electric Utility Safety Award of Excellence for safe operating practices in 2011, April 17, at the annual Engineering & Operations Technical Conference, held in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2011, Western crews—including electricians, meter and relay mechanics and linemen—spent more than 2.6 million hours working out in the field. Those 1,300-plus employees had less than 20 recordable injuries for an incident rate of 1.45. The rate is based on work-related recordable injuries or illnesses and the number of hours worked during the year.
Western transitions to Treasury's real-time accounting system
On April 1, Western Area Power Administration’s Finance office began using the U.S. Treasury’s new accounting and reporting system that allows the Treasury to track Western’s intra-governmental payments and collections in near real-time.
Western is one of the first agencies to use this new system, called the Central Accounting Reporting System, after being chosen by Treasury to participate in a pilot phase for the new government-wide standard accounting system.
Read more in Western's news feature.
Southline Transmission, Western move forward on transmission project
Western and Southline Transmission, L.L.C., have signed an advanced funding agreement that will pay for Western staff support for the proposed Southline Transmission Project during its development phase.
The Southline Transmission Project would collect and deliver electricity across southern New Mexico and southern Arizona, relieving congestion, strengthening the existing electrical system and improving transmission access for local renewable and other energy sources.
Read more at Western's press release.
More detailed analysis planned for Estes Park-to-Flatiron Reservoir transmission line rebuild
Western has decided to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed Estes Park-to-Flatiron Reservoir 115-kilovolt transmission line rebuild project in Larimer County, Colo., through an environmental impact statement rather than an environmental assessment.
Western received many written and oral comments from the public and agencies on the project during the EA scoping period, from November 2011 through January 2012, regarding the environmental impacts of the proposal, and some of the stakeholders requested evaluating additional route alternatives. Therefore, Western determined that an EIS is the more appropriate level of National Environmental Policy Act review.
Find out more information at Western's news release and project web page.
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| Western's IT team in Lakewood, Colo., test employee responses to a cyber security concern in a March 29 exercise. |
Western tests its cyber security procedures
When do you know you have a cyber security issue on your hands? In 30 seconds? In one hour? In half a day?
Making sure issues are discovered and contained quickly is the Information Technology department’s main goal, since security of Western’s systems is vital to its ability to reliably deliver power to customers and communities throughout the West.
Read the press release to learn about the incident response exercise Western held March 29.
Western energizes transmission line Reclamation project to provide more water to California customers
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| AA Western-contracted crew erects a pole to carry a 69-kilovolt transmission line designed to power the Delta-Mendota Canal Intertie project pumping plant. |
The Western Area Power Administration Sierra Nevada Region energized a new 4.7-mile, 69-kilovolt transmission line near Tracy, Calif., March 14.
This new line will provide the energy needed for the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation’s Delta-Mendota Canal Intertie Project, which connects the California State Aqueduct and the Federal Delta-Mendota Canal.
“The increased water conveyance capacity will provide flexibility in moving water between the California State Aqueduct and the Delta Mendota Canal,” said Civil Engineer Don Roberts. “Depending on water contract sales, a variety of different San Joaquin Valley water users could benefit from the project’s increased diversion capacity.”
Read more at Western's news feature.
Western Administrator highlights accomplishments, spending priorities
Western Administrator Tim Meeks testified Mar. 20 before the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee. See Western's news release for highlights of the testimony.
Compost Fire Triggers Evacuation at Substation
Western employees evacuated Tracy substation near Tracy, Calif., March 6 because of an organic compost fire nearby.
The owner of the compost pile reported that although the smoke has been thick and the odor awful, it contained no toxic substances.
“We had a few complaints of headache and coughing, but no injuries resulted from this incident,” said Western’s Sierra Nevada Safety Manager Robert Robertsen.
Western maintenance and contractor personnel worked at another location or at their alternate reporting work site as the compost fire proved to be somewhat difficult to extinguish and continued smoldering.
“Everyone reported just as prescribed in our continuity of operations plan,” said Robertsen.
The fire was completely extinguished and all employees returned to work on March 12.
