Mar 24, 2009

PUC awards wind power transmission line contracts

By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News

The Public Utility Commission on Thursday assigned seven utilities to build pieces of a $5 billion transmission line project to bring West Texas wind power to North Texas and Houston.

The decision marks the next step in the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone project, designed to promote renewable energy investment.

Texas has more wind power than any other state, and most of it is in West Texas. Existing transmission lines have nearly reached their capacity to bring wind power to population centers.

"Oncor is pleased by the PUC's movement from discussion to action, stimulating economic development through investment and the creation of hundreds of new jobs," said Don Clevenger, vice president of external affairs for Oncor, which won the largest piece of the transmission project.

Oncor, the electric delivery arm of Energy Future Holdings, will build around $1.34 billion in transmission lines in North Texas for the project.

Another Dallas company, Sharyland Utilities, lead by Hunter Hunt, will build $394 million in transmission lines.

The commission also included newcomers in the process. Wind Energy Transmission Texas, a unit of Spain's Isolux Corsan Concesiones SA, will build $402 million in transmission lines.

Traditionally, transmission line utilities own and operate the power lines in particular regions of the state. In the past, each utility suggests and builds its own projects.

For the CREZ project, the commissioners came up with power lines themselves and allowed anyone to bid on them.

Next, the utilities must file a traditional transmission line application by October, said PUC spokesman Terry Hadley. The application would include proposals for exactly where the lines should go.


WIND POWER TRANSMISSION LINES

Here's how the major projects awarded by the Public Utility Commission for wind power transmission lines break down. The numbers are estimates, and the PUC may award other contracts.

Oncor: $1.34 billion

Electric Transmission Texas: $789 million

Lower Colorado River Authority: $750 million

Lone Star Transmission: $564 million

Wind Energy Transmission Texas: $402 million

Sharyland Utilities: $394 million

Cross Texas Transmission: $390 million

SOURCE: Public Utility Commission

 

You can access the original article here.

 



Comments

Posted by Doug Connolly on 04/01  at  11:21 AM

I’m not sure I understand how these contracts are awarded when it’s not really known where the lines will be located.  We have a wind lease with GE Energy that covers 5,000+ acres in Glasscock/Sterling counties and I understand that they have also leased several other ranches that border ours.  Is there any way of telling which utility will be building transmission lines that might service these properties?  Are there other web sites that can be used to track the progress of these contracts?

Sorry for so many questions, this is really new to us.
Thanks,
Doug

Posted by H. Carlson on 08/07  at  12:17 PM

When are the lines expected to be completed so that more wind turbines will be built?

Posted by Counter Strike Server on 09/21  at  10:46 AM

This project will certainly help promote renewable energy investment, however, a few details about the project seem to be missing.

Posted by Safety Videos on 09/22  at  12:28 PM

It’s really preferable to use wind energy. preferable in a since that wind energy doesn’t harm the environment.

Posted by Auto Parts on 09/25  at  12:58 PM

Not only is wind energy a renewable resource but it’s also one of our natural resources, so it’s wise to invest in it.

Posted by Anonymous on 10/07  at  05:13 AM

I am totally for renewable resources and such, I have worked in the electric untility industry for almost ten years now.  My question to those of you who are pro-investment in this project is, “would you still feel the same way if these companies were going to put these transmission lines and wind turbines in your backyard?

Posted by Legal mp3 Download on 10/15  at  08:19 AM

I’m pro environment so I support your advocacy.

Posted by NY Lien Law on 10/16  at  05:46 AM

It’s really a great discovery, I think it will be successful because this is what we really need.

Posted by mens ties on 09/26  at  06:57 AM

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Posted by Financial Resources on 11/29  at  09:11 AM

Winning the contract is really a great achievement.. Hope they can what needs to be done.

Posted by Medical Assistant Jobs on 11/30  at  01:07 PM

That’s great news… Hope you guys be successful.

Posted by Internet God on 12/09  at  11:38 AM

Wind energy should really be given much attention. It’s really worth everything that will be invested on it.

Posted by Banja Vrujci on 01/14  at  08:51 AM

Great info, very informative post, thank you. Wind energy will be very important in my country (Serbia), although it is still in developing phaze…

Posted by Flooring on 01/14  at  10:01 AM

$5 billion is a huge budget. But I’m sure it’s worth it.

Posted by .NET Application Development on 01/17  at  02:32 AM

Hello guys!

I made mine wind power generator and its saving me some good money and I use it to power various things inside and outside my house.

Posted by Air Conditioning on 02/01  at  05:22 AM

I’m not surprised to see Texas as the biggest electric-wind State in the Country. After all, it is the biggest, next to Alaska. I’ve been seeing more and more windmills recently, and it makes me happy. I’m glad to see that we’re switching to greener solutions. Sooner than later you’ll be seeing a lot more hybrids, and greener burning fuels like natural gas.

Posted by Hot air balloon on 02/01  at  12:22 PM

Texas has more wind power than any other state, and most of it is in West Texas. Existing transmission lines have nearly reached their capacity to bring wind power to population centers.

Posted by high availability on 02/02  at  06:59 AM

I think it is fantastic that there is a Competitive Renewable Energy Zone project, designed to promote renewable energy.  How are contracts given to these utilities?  Is there a bidding process that happens?

Posted by Chevy Pickup Trucks on 02/04  at  12:13 AM

It’s really preferable to use wind energy. There is a new world wide web emerging right before our eyes. It is a global energy network and, like the internet, it will change our culture, society and how we do business.

Posted by Flowers on 02/07  at  08:44 AM

Awesome post. Loved it. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by dental insurance on 02/16  at  05:20 PM

I took some time to read the original article. I think this is a great opportunity for all those companies. Contracts for 400 million is definitely a great boost for us. Anytime I see new jobs coming up I get excited.

Posted by RVs For Sale on 02/21  at  01:48 AM

It is good that government make a commission to do and look out for things.

Posted by Roofing Contractors London on 03/15  at  04:39 AM

This will help us to enhance our energy resources. Great discovery!

Posted by Recreational Vehicles on 03/29  at  08:12 PM

I think this wind power is more than present human power use from all sources which we have. The limit of wind power is set by some economic and environmental factors.

Posted by Split System Aircon on 03/29  at  11:24 PM

Count me in…I support your advocacy. this is an awesome project—-it’s 1 of our natural resources -a gift from Mother Nature, so it’s so genius and very practical to invest in it.

thumbs up!

Posted by Used Cars on 04/01  at  01:14 AM

Wind energy was always pushed by the scientist as the cleanest source of energy. But to tap the wind energy efficient infrastructure is needed. We are on the path where soon we will be tapping the wind energy.

Posted by jacqueline on 05/14  at  03:39 AM

This decision will greatly affect Texas landowners, counties and school districts in a number of ways. Through wind leases, landowners will see new opportunities for income from their farming and ranching properties with the royalty payments received from leasing their land to wind companies. Landowners passing real property down to their heirs will need to consider the economic and tax consequences associated with transferring wind rights, wind energy royalties, and other property interests to their children and grandchildren.vw oem parts

Posted by Water Cooled Chiller on 08/11  at  06:53 AM

May I know what is the update on this? I agree that wind energy is the cleanest source of energy and aside from that it is the safest.

Posted by Rv Reviews on 08/18  at  06:57 AM

ya you are true that The decision marks the next step in the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone project, designed to promote renewable energy investment.

Posted by Rick Redimore on 12/15  at  02:30 AM

Whether it is solar or wind it is the enviornmental (or green) approaches that will benefit us all in the long term.

Another issue to also consider is the visual impact of all the various techniques currently employed to harness the earth’s energy…..sometimes the windmills look very alien and creepy

Posted by honeymoon destinations on 12/15  at  07:04 AM

Wind energy could be much more used, the only thing is that maybe that would be a problem for a big corporations and electrical and atomic power plants and their finansical constructions?

Posted by cover for ipad 2 on 12/17  at  05:10 AM

I wish that this process will go a long way and it will continue expanding the transmission.
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Posted by sports packages on 12/17  at  07:23 AM

I am also interested if there is any update on this because this is a great project and we should all pay attention to it.

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