About Transmission Planning In Nebraska
Transmission infrastructure is an important component that allows for the reliable delivery of low-cost, electricity to Nebraskans. It is also a complex regional business that does not end at the Nebraska border and thus requires coordinated long-range planning and detailed analysis when it comes to identifying future investments.
In Nebraska, decisions regarding additions of high voltage power lines are made in conjunction with the state’s transmission utility owners and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), a regional transmission organization, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.
To determine plans for future regional transmission development, SPP works with its utility member entities to develop an Integrated Transmission Plan (ITP). In early 2011, SPP adopted its first long-range integrated transmission plan which assessed transmission needs in the SPP region, including Nebraska, over a 20-year period (or through 2030).
SPP’s ITP20 transmission plan provides a “roadmap” for transmission expansion in the SPP region to meet various energy supply scenarios, and proposes significant transmission line expansion projects in Nebraska. However, projects identified in the plan are only conceptual at this point. This plan is a first step in determining at a high level what type of transmission expansion will be needed by SPP members in the future.
SPP is not asking its member utilities to build the projects identified in its 20-year plan at this time, but is using the plan as a guide to help put together SPP’s 10-year integrated transmission plan (ITP10) and near-term assessments. The ITP 10 plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2011, and will be the basis to determine which projects should be authorized for construction. The next ITP20 will be completed in 2013.
About the Nebraska Transmission Advocacy Group
To help coordinate future transmission developments in Nebraska and provide unified feedback about these needs to SPP, the Nebraska Power Association Board has approved the formation of the Nebraska Transmission Advocacy Group (NTAG). The purpose of NTAG is to work proactively with Nebraska’s transmission owners and related entities to provide SPP with a unified and proactive message and plan for long-range transmission planning.
Based on SPP’s issuance of its ITP20 Cost Effective Plan in January 2011, Nebraska utilities and NTAG participants are banding together to propose a modification to the existing long-range transmission proposals in Nebraska for the ITP 10-year plan. Known as the “r-plan”, this map shows the suggested requested changes. NTAG is also currently in discussions regarding a second suggested proposal known as the T-Plan. This plan is expected to be the subject of discussion among NTAG participants for consideration in SPP’s next ITP20 plan, to be drafted in 2013.
NTAG suggested plan | Final approved SPP plan
Essentially, each of NTAG’s proposed changes lengthen SPP’s original transmission proposal, providing a more robust and reliable energy delivery network in Nebraska.
NTAG Overview
| NTAG Is… | NTAG Is Not… |
|---|---|
|
|
| NTAG Utility Group Advocates |
|---|
| City of Grand Island |
| Lincoln Electric System |
| Loup Power District |
| Nebraska Electric Gen. &Trans. Coop., Inc. |
| Nebraska Public Power District |
| Nebraska Municipal Power Pool |
| Nebraska Rural Electric Association |
| NMPP Energy |
| Omaha Public Power District |
| Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association, Inc. |
| NTAG Non-Utility Advocates |
|---|
| Cherry County Wind |
| Juwi Wind US Corp. |
| Midwest Wind |
| Nebraska Economic Development |
| Nebraska Energy Office |
| Nebraska Farm Bureau |
| Third Planet Windpower |
| Wind for Export Association |
To add your affiliate’s name to the advocate’s list, please contact John O’Connor at 402-465-3511.
Related Links
ITP10 Project List_20111214_Public
Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission (HART)
Kansas Electric Transmission Authority
| NPA Members Only Section |
|---|