Renewables
Western's Renewable Resources program encourages the voluntary use of renewable resources by Western's wholesale customers. Western offers Federal customers two renewable resource products and facilitates customer access to renewable energy developers. The goal of the program is to identify customers that desire renewable resources in their generation mix and provide the technical and marketing assistance required for them to fully evaluate the option.
News at a Glance
RFI published for purchasing wind generation
Western, under the authority of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and as part of its commitment to promote Indian tribal energy development, mailed a Request for Interest to its firm power and independently owned utility customers to find potential buyers for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's proposed 99-megawatt Tate Topa Wind Energy Project in South Dakota.
Presentations from March 28 interconnection webinar available
You can now download the PowerPoint (640 kb ppt) and audio (42 MB wmv) presentations from the March 28 webinar, Understanding the Transmission Service Request and Interconnection Queue Process. The webinar covered the procedure for interconnection with Western's transmission system, how to request transmission service and what tribes can do to gain access to the system. The Transmission/Interconnection Flow Chart (35 kb pdf) provides more details.
Transmission policy webinar available to dowload
If you weren't able to participate in the Feb. 29 webinar, Unwinding Transmission Policies, you can now download the recorded webinar, or just the PowerPoint presentation.
This webinar was the fourth in a series presented by the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, DOE Tribal Energy Program and Western Area Power Administration. The next webinar, Understanding the Interconnection and Transmission Service Queues, will take place March 28. Register now.
Presentation from webinar on 2012 REC solicitation available online
If you weren't able to attend the March 14 webinar on the 2012 renewable energy certificate soliciation by Western Area Power Administration and the DOE Federal Energy Management Program, you can download the presentation (74 MB wmv) [Note: If you are not a GoToMeeting user, you will need to install the GoToMeeting codec to view the presentation.]
The webinar covers key requirements and steps associated with this REC purchase. Learn how RECs can help Federal agencies meet their renewable energy goals and mandates, while improving the environment and supporting national energy security.
To participate in this solicitation, download and complete the Statement of Intent for Federal Agencies to Purchase Renewable Resources from Western's Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies website. Fax or e-mail the completed form to Sandee Peebles at 916-985-1931 no later than April 20. Western will competitively procure the desired RECs with FEMP covering the administrative cost of the solicitation, a savings that will accrue to the participants.
Second edition of in-house wind O&M guidebook now available
To support power providers who are exploring alternative way to add wind generation to their portfolios, DOE's Wind Program has updated Establishing an In-House Wind Maintenance Program (2 MB pdf).
Since the guidebook was first published in 2008, more utilities have taken the path of setting up in-house O&M programs. The latest edition reflects their experiences, as well as advances in technology and other changes in the wind industry.
Cosponsors of the publication include Western Area Power Administration, Utility Wind Integration Group, American Wind Energy Association, American Public Power Association, National Rural Electric Association and Wind Powering America.
Download presentation from geothermal webinar series
Presentations from the webinar series being presented by DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Program and Western Area Power Administration are available to download.
The series is a part of GTP's efforts to develop new and more efficient and reliable technologies and to enable the U.S. geothermal industry to compete for baseload electricity generation.
Presentations available from Jan. 25 Green Power Program webinar
You can now download the presentations and recorded audio from the Jan. 25 webinar, Overview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Program. This webinar is the third in a free series being presented by the DOE Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, the DOE Tribal Energy Program, Environmental Protection Agency and Western Area Power Administration.
Presentations from the previous Tribal Energy Program webinars can also be found in the Webcast Library. See below for upcoming events.
Free tribal webinar series focuses on energy self-sufficiency
Join Western, the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, DOE’s Tribal Energy Program for a free webinar series to promote tribal energy sufficiency and foster economic development and employment on tribal lands through renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies. Upcoming webinars will cover::
May 30 – Today’s Energy Supply – Yesterday’s Grid
Join an informative discussion on how utilities’ generation portfolios are changing—often faster than the grid infrastructure that supports it. Learn how grid operators are integrating new generation and demand (load) response technologies into a system that was not designed for these tasks. Presentations will include transmission studies from the Western Grid Group and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Register now.
July 25 – Grid Reliability – Impacts to Tribal Renewable Projects
In 2008, NERC Reliability Standards Compliance became mandatory, with fines for non-compliance. This has raised the importance of compliance programs throughout the electric industry. This webinar provides an overview of the purpose and organization of a compliance program, and how tribal renewable projects can be impacted by reliability requirements. Register now.
Sept. 26 – DOE Office of Indian Energy’s START Program Status Updates
Get your update on the DOE Office of Indian Energy’s Strategic Technical Assistance Response Team (START) and the range of projects that were selected in 2012. START and Alaska START aim to advance clean energy generation in Indian Country by providing Native American tribes and Alaska Native governments with strategic technical assistance. Register now.
Presentations from past webinars are posted in the Webcast Library and will be updated as they become available.
Presentation introduces Colorado's Renewable Energy Development Team
A Nov. 17 webinar put the spotlight on a new agency to help jumpstart stalled renewable energy projects in Colorado. The Renewable Energy Development Team, a program from the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, offers up to 120 hours of free technical assistance to connect with potential investors or reach the project developer review stage. Download the presentation (includes wmv audio file) to learn more.
State program guides focus on policy, finance
Clean Energy States Alliance has created two new state program guides—one focused on policy and the other on finance—for distributed and community wind projects. The guides were created as part of CESA’s States Advancing Wind Project.
- Supporting On‑Site Distributed Wind Generation Projects, by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy States Alliance – This wind energy program guide is for state clean energy fund managers and policymakers who support the installation of on‑site, behind‑the‑meter wind turbines at private businesses and municipal and other public facilities. It lays out the many policy actions states can take to encourage the development of these projects. Among these are: project feasibility assessment support, grant and other incentive programs, interconnection and net metering policies and model zoning ordinances. The guide also provides case studies of the leading state clean energy funds providing support to this market. May 2010.
- State‑Based Financing Tools to Support Distributed and Community Wind Projects, by Charles Kubert and Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy States Alliance – This wind energy program guide was created to help state clean energy fund managers and policymakers examine the various ways states can provide financial support for distributed wind projects. The options available to states range from rebates and loans to bridge financing and renewable portfolio standards. Each should be evaluated in light of the availability of tax and other incentives available at the Federal level. The report also looks at third‑party financing, which is increasingly being used by private and public entities to develop projects in tight financial times. May 2010.
The guides and presentations from the associated webinars on each topic are available online.