Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative Technologies, 4791-4797 [05-1693]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4791-4797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1693]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 35

[Docket No. RM05-4-000]


Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative 
Technologies

January 24, 2005.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is 
proposing to amend its regulations to require public utilities to 
append to the standard large generator interconnection agreement in 
their open access transmission tariffs (OATTs) specific technical 
requirements for the interconnection of large wind generation.

DATES: Comments are due March 2, 2005. Reply comments will be due 30 
days thereafter.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on 
the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. Commenters unable to 
file comments electronically must send an original and 14 copies of 
their comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the 
Secretary, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Refer to the 
Comment Procedures section of the preamble for additional information 
on how to file comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bruce A. Poole (Technical Information), Office of Markets, Tariffs and 
Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8468.
G. Patrick Rooney (Technical Information), Office of Markets, Tariffs 
and Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-6205.
P. Kumar Agarwal (Technical Information), Office of Markets, Tariffs 
and Rates, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-8923.
Jeffery S. Dennis (Legal Information), Office of the General Counsel, 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426. (202) 502-6027.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    1. In Order No. 2003,\1\ the Commission adopted standard procedures 
for the interconnection of large generation facilities and a standard 
large generator interconnection agreement. The Commission required 
public utilities that own, control, or operate facilities for 
transmitting electric energy in interstate commerce to file revised 
Open Access Transmission Tariffs (OATTs) containing these standard 
provisions, and use them to provide interconnection service to 
generating facilities having a capacity of more than 20 megawatts. In 
Order No. 2003-A, on rehearing, the Commission determined that the 
standard procedures and agreement were designed around the needs of 
traditional synchronous generation facilities, and that generators 
relying on non-

[[Page 4792]]

synchronous technologies,\2\ such as wind plants, may find that a 
specific requirement is inapplicable or that a different approach is 
needed.\3\ Accordingly, the Commission granted certain clarifications, 
and also added a blank Appendix G (Requirements of Generators Relying 
on Non-Synchronous Technologies) to the standard generator 
interconnection agreement as a placeholder for the inclusion of 
requirements specific to non-synchronous technologies.\4\ It appears 
that the only relevant non-synchronous generator in this rulemaking is 
the wind generator, and thus the proposed rule would apply only to wind 
plants, although we request comments on whether there are other 
technologies that should also be subject to the rule.
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    \1\ Standardization of Generator Interconnection Agreements and 
Procedures, Order No. 2003, 68 FR 49845 (Aug. 19, 2003), FERC Stats. 
& Regs., Regulations Preambles ] 31,146 (2003) (Order No. 2003), 
order on reh'g, 69 FR 15932 (Mar. 24, 2004), FERC Stats & Regs., 
Regulations Preambles ] 31,160 (2004) (Order No. 2003-A), order on 
reh'g, 70 FR 265 (January 4, 2005), FERC Stats & Regs., Regulations 
Preambles ] 31,171 (2004) (Order No. 2003-B), reh'g pending; see 
also Notice Clarifying Compliance Procedures, 106 FERC ] 61,009 
(2004).
    \2\ A wind generator is considered non-synchronous because it 
does not run at the same speed as a traditional generator. A non-
synchronous generator possesses significantly different 
characteristics and responds differently to network disturbances.
    \3\ Order No. 2003-A at P 407, n. 86.
    \4\ Id.
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    2. In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), the Commission is 
proposing standards applicable to the interconnection of large wind 
generating plants,\5\ to be included in Appendix G of the Large 
Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA). The Commission proposes 
these standards in light of its findings in Order No. 2003-A, noted 
above, and in response to a petition submitted by the American Wind 
Energy Association (AWEA) on May 20, 2004. Specifically, and as 
described more fully below, we propose to include in Appendix G to the 
LGIA certain technical requirements that Transmission Providers must 
apply to interconnection service for wind generation plants that are 
different from that required of traditional synchronous generating 
plants or are now needed because of the increased presence of larger 
aggregated wind plants on the Transmission Provider's systems. These 
requirements would be applied in addition to the standard 
interconnection procedures and requirements adopted by the Commission 
in Order No. 2003. Additionally, the Commission seeks comments on 
certain issues, including whether there are other non-synchronous 
technologies, or other technologies in addition to wind, that should 
also be covered by the proposed Appendix G.
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    \5\ Large wind generating plants are those with an output rated 
at 20 MW or higher at the point of interconnection.
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Background

    3. In Order No. 2003, pursuant to its responsibility under sections 
205 and 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \6\ to remedy undue 
discrimination, the Commission required all public utilities that own, 
control, or operate facilities for transmitting electric energy in 
interstate commerce to append to their OATTs the pro forma Large 
Generator Interconnection Procedures (LGIP) and pro forma LGIA. To 
achieve greater standardization of interconnection terms and 
conditions, Order No. 2003 required such public utilities to file 
revised OATTs containing the pro forma LGIP and LGIA included in Order 
No. 2003.
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    \6\ 16 U.S.C. 824d-e (2000).
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    4. Order Nos. 2003-A and 2003-B, issued on rehearing, made certain 
revisions to the pro forma LGIP and LGIA. In Order No. 2003-A, the 
Commission clarified that certain provisions of the LGIP and LGIA are 
not appropriately applied to wind generators. The Commission stated 
that it ``recognize[d] that the LGIA and LGIP are designed around the 
needs of large synchronous generators and that many generators relying 
on newer technologies may find that either a specific requirement is 
inapplicable or that it calls for a slightly different approach.'' \7\ 
In light of this recognition, the Commission clarified that LGIA 
article 5.4 (Power System Stabilizers), LGIA article 5.10.3 
(Interconnection Customer's Interconnection Facilities Construction) 
and LGIA article 9.6.1 (Power Factor Design Criteria) would not be 
applied to wind generators.\8\ Additionally, the Commission noted that 
``there may be other areas of the LGIP and LGIA that may call for a 
slightly different approach for a generator relying on newer technology 
because it may have unique electrical characteristics.'' \9\ As a 
result, the Commission added to the LGIA a blank new Appendix G as a 
placeholder for requirements specific to newer technologies to be 
developed at a future time.\10\
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    \7\ Order No. 2003-A at P 407, n. 85.
    \8\ Id. at P 278, 407, n. 85.
    \9\ Id. at P 407, n. 85.
    \10\ The Appendix G that was added to the LGIA in Order No. 
2003-A and that we propose in this NOPR should not be confused with 
the Appendix G that the Commission originally proposed to include in 
the LGIA, which concerned Interconnection Guidelines. The Commission 
did not include that Appendix in the Final Rule LGIA, since its 
provisions were covered elsewhere in the LGIP and LGIA. See Order 
No. 2003 at P 673. In Order No. 2003-A, the Commission used the 
Appendix G label for the requirements specific to wind generation 
and perhaps other non-synchronous technologies that we propose in 
this rulemaking.
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    5. On May 20, 2004, in Docket No. RM02-1-005, AWEA submitted a 
petition for rulemaking or, in the alternative, request for 
clarification of Order No. 2003-A, and a request for a technical 
conference. AWEA asked the Commission to adopt in Appendix G certain 
standards for the interconnection of wind generation plants. 
Specifically, AWEA submitted a proposed Appendix G that it argues 
addresses the concerns of both Transmission Providers and the wind 
generation industry. AWEA's proposed Appendix G included a low voltage 
ride-through capability standard, which would allow the Transmission 
Provider to require as a condition of interconnection that wind 
generation facilities have the ability to continue operating or ``ride-
through'' certain low voltage conditions on the transmission system to 
which they are interconnected. Additionally, AWEA proposed that the 
power factor design criteria of up to 0.95 leading/lagging be applied 
to wind generation plants, with certain flexibility regarding whether 
the location of the reactive support equipment would be at the common 
point of interconnection of all the generators in the plant rather than 
at the individual turbine. Further, AWEA proposed that we require 
Transmission Providers and wind generator manufacturers to participate 
in a formal process to develop, update, and improve the engineering 
models and specifications used in modeling wind plant interconnections. 
Finally, AWEA proposed to include language in Appendix G allowing the 
wind Interconnection Customer to ``self-study'' interconnection 
feasibility by entering the interconnection queue without providing 
certain power and load flow data, receiving certain information from 
the Transmission Provider, and conducting its own Feasibility Study.
    6. On September 24, 2004, the Commission held a Technical 
Conference to discuss the issues raised by AWEA's petition. The goal 
was to discuss the technical requirements for the interconnection of 
wind plants and other alternative technologies and the need for 
specific requirements for their interconnection. Additionally, the 
Technical Conference considered how wind and other alternative 
generator technologies may respond differently to transmission grid 
disturbances and have different effects on the transmission grid. The 
Commission also solicited and

[[Page 4793]]

received post-Technical Conference comments from interested persons.

Discussion

    7. Based on our review and consideration of AWEA's petition and the 
comments received at and after the Technical Conference, the Commission 
is proposing certain technical requirements for the interconnection of 
wind generating plants. The Commission proposes to include these 
technical requirements as Appendix G to the LGIA, as contemplated in 
Order No. 2003-A. The technical requirements we propose here are 
similar in certain respects and differ in other respects from the 
Appendix G proposed by AWEA in its petition for rulemaking. The 
Commission is also seeking comments on certain issues, as discussed 
below. Our goal is to adopt final technical requirements for the 
interconnection of wind plants (and other alternative technologies, if 
any) that recognize the special characteristics of wind plants, their 
larger size and increased penetration on the transmission system (in 
terms of the wind generating capacity's percentage contribution to 
total system generating capacity), and the effects they have on the 
transmission system. This proposal seeks to accommodate wind plants 
while ensuring the continued reliability of the nation's electric 
transmission system.
    8. The Appendix G technical requirements for the interconnection of 
wind generation plants that we propose in this NOPR are not intended to 
be the sole interconnection requirements for wind plants. Such plants 
will still be subject to the other standard interconnection procedures 
and requirements adopted by the Commission in Order No. 2003, unless 
wind plants have been otherwise exempted from such procedures and 
requirements.
    9. Recently, the Commission became aware of the Alberta Electric 
System Operator's adoption of technical standards for the 
interconnection of wind generation plants to its transmission 
system.\11\ The standards adopted by the AESO are similar to, but more 
comprehensive than, the standards we propose in the Appendix G in this 
NOPR.
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    \11\ Those standards, titled Wind Power Facility Technical 
Requirements, are at https://www.aeso.com.
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    10. The Commission is not proposing a transition period before the 
technical requirements in Appendix G would take effect. At the 
Technical Conference, however, several participants noted that wind 
turbine manufacturers have turbines in their inventory that do not have 
low voltage ride-through capability or adequate reactive power 
capability. Some participants argued that a transition period would be 
appropriate to accommodate this inventory. This proposal is designed in 
part to allow the Transmission Provider to assure transmission grid 
safety and reliability. For this reason, deviations should not be 
permitted unless approved by the Transmission Provider on a comparable 
basis. The proposal grants the Transmission Provider the flexibility to 
relax certain requirements if not needed for safety and reliability, as 
explained in more detail below.

Low Voltage Ride-Through Standard

    11. Prior to the advent of larger wind plants generally consisting 
of multiple wind generation turbines, individual wind turbines were 
designed to go offline if there was a sudden change in voltage on the 
transmission system. However, now there are larger aggregated wind 
plants with a greater penetration level on the Transmission Provider's 
systems in certain areas, and significant stability problems can occur 
on the transmission system if such large plants become unavailable 
during a low voltage excursion. As a result, Transmission Providers 
need large wind plants to remain online during low-voltage occurrences 
for reliability reasons.
    12. The Commission is proposing to require that large wind plants 
seeking to interconnect to the grid demonstrate low voltage ride-
through capability, unless waived by the Transmission Provider on a 
comparable and not unduly discriminatory basis. Specifically, Appendix 
G would require that ``wind generating plants * * * demonstrate the 
ability to remain on-line during voltage disturbances up to the time 
periods and associated voltage levels set forth in Figure 1'' of the 
Appendix. The required voltage levels would be measured at the high 
voltage side of the substation transformers.\12\
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    \12\ While low voltage ride-through capability is needed for 
wind plants, it is not a concern for large synchronous generating 
facilities because most of these facilities are equipped with 
automatic voltage control devices to increase output during low 
voltage excursions.
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    13. The Commission seeks comments on this proposed standard. 
Particularly, the Commission is interested in comments addressing 
whether it should adopt a low voltage ride-through standard at all, 
whether this or another standard is more appropriate, and whether this 
proposed standard is specific enough. Additionally, the Commission 
seeks comment on whether the voltage-time profile of the proposed 
Appendix G is appropriate or should be modified.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Capability

    14. Previously, Transmission Providers generally did not require 
wind generators to have remote supervisory control and data acquisition 
(SCADA) capability because of their small size and minimal effects on 
the transmission system. Now that there are more large wind plants, 
Transmission Providers may need SCADA capability to ensure the safety 
and reliability of the transmission system during normal, system 
emergency, and system contingency conditions, and to acquire wind 
facility operating data.
    15. The Commission proposes to require that large wind plants 
seeking to interconnect to the transmission grid possess SCADA 
capability. The proposed Appendix G would require that the wind plant 
install SCADA capability to transmit data and receive instructions from 
the Transmission Provider. Additionally, the proposed Appendix G states 
that the Transmission Provider and wind plant owner shall determine the 
SCADA information that is essential for the proposed wind plant, taking 
into account the size of the plant, its characteristics, location, and 
importance in maintaining generation resource adequacy and transmission 
system reliability in its area.\13\
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    \13\ Unlike synchronous generating plants, which generally 
possess SCADA capability, can respond to automatic generation 
control signals from the control center and are often staffed, wind 
generating plants are often remote, unmanned, and characterized by 
an unpredictable rate of change of output, thus making it difficult 
for the Transmission Provider to limit the output of the wind plant 
when necessary for system reliability.
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    16. The Commission seeks comments regarding the SCADA capability 
requirements proposed in this NOPR. Particularly, the Commission seeks 
comments on whether there is any basic essential SCADA information that 
large wind plants should be required to provide, and if so, what that 
information should be (such as information needed to determine how the 
plant's maximum megawatt output and megawatt ramp rate vary over time 
with changes in the wind speed, and/or information needed to forecast 
the megawatt output of the plant).

Power Factor Design Criteria (Reactive Power)

    17. Previously, Transmission Providers did not require wind 
generators to have the capability to

[[Page 4794]]

provide reactive power because the facilities were generally small and 
had minimal impact on the transmission grid. Because of the larger size 
of many of the wind plants currently operating and the increased 
penetration of wind energy on the transmission system, Transmission 
Providers may need to require wind plants to operate within a specified 
power factor range to help balance the reactive power needs of the 
transmission system.
    18. The Commission is proposing to require that wind plants 
maintain a power factor within the range of 0.95 leading to 0.95 
lagging (as required by Order No. 2003), to be measured at the high 
voltage side of the substation transformer. The proposed Appendix G 
permits wind plants flexibility in how they meet the power factor 
requirement (for example, using either power electronics designed to 
supply this level of reactive capability or fixed and switched 
capacitors if agreed to by the Transmission Provider, or a combination 
of the two.) Additionally, the Commission proposes to allow the 
Transmission Provider to waive the power factor requirement for wind 
plants where such capability is not needed at that location or for a 
generating facility of that size, provided that such waiver is not 
unduly discriminatory and is offered on a comparable basis to similarly 
situated wind plants. Should the power factor requirement be waived, 
however, the interconnection agreement would be considered a non-
conforming agreement under section 11.3 of the LGIP, requiring that it 
be filed with the Commission. The Commission believes that it is 
appropriate to permit the Transmission Provider to waive the power 
factor requirement for a wind plant if the Transmission Provider does 
not need reactive power for reliability at that plant's location 
because, unlike a non-wind generator which always has some reactive 
power capability, a wind plant must incur an additional capital cost to 
provide this reactive power. Finally, we propose to require that wind 
plants have the capability to provide sufficient dynamic voltage 
support in order to interconnect to the transmission system, instead of 
the power system stabilizer and automatic voltage support at the 
generator excitation system, if the System Impact Study shows that such 
dynamic capability is necessary for system reliability.
    19. The Commission seeks comments regarding whether the proposed 
power factor range proposed should be increased or decreased for wind 
generation plants. Also, the Commission seeks input as to whether any 
dynamic (i.e., controllable) reactive capability should be required of 
wind plants as a condition of interconnection, and if so, what level of 
dynamic capability should be required. Further, the Commission seeks 
comments on the proposed waiver provisions for the power factor 
requirement discussed above.

Models and Self-Study of Feasibility

    20. In its petition, AWEA proposed that certain variations in the 
Interconnection Study process be applied to the interconnection of wind 
plants. Specifically, AWEA proposed that Transmission Providers be 
required to ``participate in a formal process for updating, improving, 
and validating the engineering models used for modeling the 
interconnection impacts of wind turbines.'' \14\ Additionally, AWEA 
proposed that wind Interconnection Customers be permitted to enter the 
interconnection queue and ``self-study'' the feasibility of 
interconnection after submitting an Interconnection Request that does 
not include power and load flow data and paying the applicable deposit. 
These wind Interconnection Customers should be entitled to have the 
scoping meeting with the Transmission Provider and receive from the 
Transmission Provider the base case data, according to AWEA. Following 
its self-study, the wind Interconnection Customer would submit an 
electrical design and turbine models sufficient to allow the 
Transmission Provider to conduct a System Impact Study under AWEA's 
proposal. AWEA stated that these provisions were necessary because 
requiring power system and load flow data to be submitted with the 
Interconnection Request is impractical for wind plants, since the 
turbine selection and electrical design of the wind plant may be based 
on the outcome of the Feasibility Study and grid conditions at the 
point of interconnection.
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    \14\ AWEA Proposed Appendix G at 5.
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    21. The Commission is not proposing these provisions for several 
reasons. With regard to the proposal to require Transmission Providers 
to participate in a formal process to update and improve wind turbine 
modeling, we believe that such a formal process should take place 
outside the Commission, through industry technical groups or perhaps 
through the regional reliability councils. The Commission recognizes, 
however, that improvements in the way that wind interconnections are 
modeled would be beneficial, and we encourage the industry to address 
this issue.
    22. With regard to AWEA's self-study proposal, Order No. 2003 
currently requires that a valid and complete Interconnection Request be 
on file with the Transmission Provider before the Interconnection 
Customer may receive Base Case data.\15\ Section 2.3 did not address 
situations where the Interconnection Customer might need access to the 
Base Case data before it could complete its Interconnection Request. 
Therefore we seek comments on how to balance the need of wind 
generators to self-study prior to filing a completed Interconnection 
Request with the need to protect this critical energy infrastructure 
information and commercially sensitive data against unwarranted 
disclosure.
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    \15\ See LGIP, section 2.3; see also Order No. 2003 at P 77-84.
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    23. Additionally, in Order No. 2003 the Commission addressed 
requests that additional time be provided after the Interconnection 
Request is made to submit final design specifications.\16\ There, we 
stated that ``[t]he Interconnection Customer should have its design 
substantially completed prior to submitting its Interconnection Request 
so that it does not block or disrupt the queue process.'' \17\ We also 
noted that Transmission Providers would not be able to act on an 
incomplete Interconnection Request, and that giving ``one class of 
Interconnection Customers extra time to submit design specifications 
would be unfair to other Interconnection Customers in the queue.'' \18\ 
The Commission is not persuaded to propose deviations from these 
conclusions in this rulemaking.
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    \16\ See Order No. 2003 at P 99.
    \17\ Id. at P 103.
    \18\ Id.
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Other Generating Technologies

    24. The Commission seeks comments regarding whether there are other 
generating technologies that should be required to comply with the 
specific technical requirements included in Appendix G.

Variations From Appendix G

    25. The Commission is proposing to permit Transmission Providers to 
justify variations from the terms of the final Appendix G using the 
approach taken in Order No. 2003. In Order No. 2003, the Commission 
modified the approach taken in Order No. 888,\19\ which

[[Page 4795]]

allowed two types of variations. First, public utilities may seek 
variations to the LGIP and LGIA based on regional reliability 
requirements.\20\ Second, public utilities may argue that proposed 
changes to any OATT provision are ``consistent with or superior to'' 
the terms of the pro forma OATT.\21\ Additionally, Order No. 2003 
allows RTOs and ISOs greater flexibility in complying with its 
provisions. They may seek an ``independent entity variation'' from the 
pricing and non-pricing provisions of the pro forma LGIP and LGIA.\22\ 
The Commission intends to apply all three of these variation standards 
to proposed variations from the Appendix G the Commission finally 
adopts in this proceeding.
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    \19\ Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-
Discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities; Recovery 
of Stranded Costs by Public Utilities and Transmitting Utilities, 
Order No. 888, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,036 (1996) at 31,760-61 
(Order No. 888), order on reh'g, Order No. 888-A, FERC Stats. & 
Regs. ] 31,048 (1997), order on reh'g, Order No. 888-B, 81 FERC ] 
61,248 (1997), order on reh'g, Order No. 888-C, 82 FERC ] 61,046 
(1997), aff'd in relevant part sub nom. Transmission Access Policy 
Study Group v. FERC, 225 F.3d 667 (D.C. Cir. 2000), aff'd sub nom. 
New York v. FERC, 535 U.S. 1 (2002).
    \20\ See Order No. 2003 at P 823-24.
    \21\ See id. at P 816.
    \22\ Id. at P 822-827; see also Order No. 2003-A at P 48.
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Information Collection Statement

    26. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations require OMB 
to approve certain information collection requirements imposed by 
agency rule.\23\ Comments are solicited on the Commission's need for 
this information, whether the information will have practical utility, 
the accuracy of provided burden estimates, ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected, and any 
suggested methods for minimizing respondents' burden, including the use 
of automated information techniques.
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    \23\ 5 CFR 1320.11 (2004).
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    27. Public Reporting Burden:

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                                                 Number of        Number of        Hours per       Total annual
               Data collection                  respondents       responses         response          hours
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FERC-516....................................             238                1               18            4,284
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    Information Collection Costs: The Commission seeks comments on the 
costs to comply with these requirements. It has projected the 
annualized cost for all respondents to be: Annualized Capital/Startup 
Costs-Staffing requirements to review and prepare an interconnection 
agreement = $642,600. (238 respondents x $150 hourly rate x 18 hours 
per respondent.)
    The OMB regulations require OMB to approve certain information 
collection requirements imposed by agency rule.\24\ Accordingly, 
pursuant to OMB regulations, the Commission is providing notice of its 
proposed information collections to OMB.
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    \24\ Id.
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    Title: FERC-516, Electric Rate Schedule Filings.
    Action: Proposed Information Collection.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0096.
    The applicant shall not be penalized for failure to respond to this 
collection of information unless the collection of information displays 
a valid OMB control number.
    Respondents: Business or other for profit.
    Frequency of Responses: One-time implementation.
    Necessity of Information: The proposed rule would revise the 
requirements contained in 18 CFR part 35. The Commission is seeking to 
revise its standardized interconnection procedures and agreements to 
include wind generation plants. In particular, the Commission will 
propose that public utilities add to their standard interconnection 
agreements the technical requirements for the interconnection of wind 
generation plants. The proposed rule would require that each public 
utility that owns, operates, or controls transmission facilities 
participate in one-time filings incorporating the technical 
requirements into their own open access transmission tariffs. Internal 
Review: the Commission has assured itself, by means of internal review, 
that there is specific, objective support for the burden estimates 
associated with the information collection requirements. The 
Commission's Office of Market, Tariffs and Rates will use the data 
included in filings under Section 203 and 205 of the Federal Power to 
evaluate efforts for interconnection and coordination of the U.S. 
electric transmission as well as for general industry oversight. These 
information requirements conform to the Commission's plan for efficient 
information collection, communication, and management within the 
electric power industry. Interested persons may obtain information on 
the reporting requirements by contacting: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426, Attention: 
Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, phone: (202) 502-
8415, fax: (202) 273-0873, e-mail: michael.miller@ferc.gov. Comments on 
the proposed requirements of the subject rule may also be sent to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, phone: (202) 395-4650.

Environmental Analysis

    28. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may 
have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.\25\ The 
Commission has categorically excluded certain actions from this 
requirement as not having a significant effect on the human 
environment. Included in the exclusion are rules that are clarifying, 
corrective, or procedural, or that do not substantially change the 
effect of the regulations being amended.\26\ The exclusion also 
includes information gathering, analysis, and dissemination.\27\ The 
rules proposed in this NOPR would update and clarify the application of 
the Commission's standard interconnection requirements to wind 
generation plants. Further, this NOPR involves information gathering, 
analysis, and dissemination regarding the interconnection of wind 
generators. Therefore, this NOPR falls within the categorical 
exemptions provided in the Commission's Regulations, and as a result 
neither an environmental impact statement nor an environmental 
assessment is required. Additionally, we note that this proposed rule 
will help the development and interconnection of wind plants, 
eliminating the airborne and other emissions that would result from 
constructing fossil fuel generating plants instead.
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    \25\ Order No. 486, Regulations Implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act, 52 FR 47897 (Dec. 17, 1987), FERC Stats. & 
Regs. Preambles 1986-1990 ] 30,783 (Dec. 10, 1987).
    \26\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(2)(ii) (2004).
    \27\ 18 CFR 380.4(a)(5) (2004).
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Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

    29. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA) \28\ generally 
requires a description and analysis of final rules

[[Page 4796]]

that will have significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.\29\ The Commission is not required to make such 
analyses if a rule would not have such an effect.
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    \28\ 5 U.S.C. 601-612 (2000).
    \29\ The RFA definition of ``small entity'' refers to the 
definition provided in the Small Business Act, which defines a 
``small business concern'' as a business that is independently owned 
and operated and that is not dominant in its field of operation. 15 
U.S.C. 632 (2000). The Small Business Size Standards component of 
the North American Industry Classification System defines a small 
electric utility as one that, including its affiliates, is primarily 
engaged in the generation, transmission, and/or distribution of 
electric energy for sale and whose total electric output for the 
preceding fiscal years did not exceed 4 million MWh. 13 CFR 121.201 
(Section 22, Utilities, North American Industry Classification 
System, NAICS) (2004)).
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    30. The Commission does not believe that this proposed rule would 
have such an impact on small entities. Most filing companies subject to 
the Commission's jurisdiction do not fall within the RFA's definition 
of a small entity. Further, the filing requirements contain standard 
generator interconnection procedures and agreement for interconnecting 
generators larger than 20 MW, which exceeds the threshold of the Small 
Business Size Standard of NAICS. Therefore, the Commission certifies 
that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Comment Procedures

    31. The Commission invites comments on the matters and proposals in 
this notice, including any related matters or alternative proposals 
that commenters may wish to discuss. Comments are due March 2, 2005. 
Reply comments will be due 30 days thereafter. Comments must refer to 
Docket No. RM05-4-000, and must include the commenters' name, the 
organization represented, if applicable, and address.
    32. Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on 
the Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. The Commission 
accepts most standard word processing formats and commenters may attach 
additional files with supporting information in certain other file 
formats. Commenters filing electronically do not need to make a paper 
filing. Commenters that are not able to file comments electronically 
must send an original and 14 copies of their comments to Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    33. All comments will be placed in the Commission's public files 
and may be viewed, printed, or downloaded remotely as described in the 
Document Availability section below. Commenters on this proposal are 
not required to serve copies of their comments on other commenters.

Document Availability

    34. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the 
Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an 
opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the 
Internet through FERC's home page (https://www.ferc.gov) and in FERC's 
Public Reference Room during normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
eastern time) at 888 First Street, NE., Room 2A, Washington, DC 20426.
    35. From FERC's home page on the Internet, this information is 
available in the Commission's document management system, eLibrary. The 
full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and 
Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To 
access this document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the 
last three digits of this document in the docket number field.
    36. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the FERC's Web 
site during normal business hours. For assistance, please contact FERC 
Online Support at 1-866-208-3676 (toll free) or 202-502-6652 (e-mail at 
FERCOnlineSupport@FERC.gov), or the Public Reference Room at 202-502-
8371, TTY 202-502-8659 (e-mail at public.referenceroom@ferc.gov).

List of Subjects in 18 CFR Part 35

    Electric power rates, Electric utilities.

    By direction of the Commission.
Linda Mitry,
Deputy Secretary.
    In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission proposes to 
revise part 35, Chapter I, Title 18 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 
as follows.

PART 35--FILING OF RATE SCHEDULES

    1. The authority citation for part 35 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r, 2601-2645; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 
U.S.C. 7101-7352.

    2. In Sec.  35.28, paragraph (f)(1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  35.28  Non-discriminatory open access transmission tariff.

* * * * *
    (f) Standard generator interconnection procedures and agreements.
    (1) Every public utility that is required to have on file a non-
discriminatory open access transmission tariff under this section must 
amend such tariff by adding the standard interconnection procedures and 
agreement contained in Order No. 2003, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,146 
(Final Rule on Generator Interconnection), as amended by the Commission 
in Order No. ----, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] ---- (Final Rule on 
Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other Alternative Technologies), or 
such other interconnection procedures and agreement as may be approved 
by the Commission consistent with the Final Rule on Generator 
Interconnection.
    (i) The amendment to implement the Final Rule on Generator 
Interconnection required by the preceding subsection must be filed no 
later than January 20, 2004.
    (ii) The amendment to implement the Final Rule on Interconnection 
for Wind Energy and other Alternative Technologies required by the 
preceding subsection must be filed no later than [60 days after 
publication of final rule].
    (iii) Any public utility that seeks a deviation from the standard 
interconnection procedures and agreement contained in Order No. 2003, 
FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,146 (Final Rule on Generator Interconnection), 
as amended by the Commission in Order No. ----, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 
---- (Final Rule on Interconnection for Wind Energy and Other 
Alternative Technologies), must demonstrate that the deviation is 
consistent with the principles of the Final Rule on Generator 
Interconnection.
* * * * *
[Note: The attachments will not be published in the Code of Federal 
Regulations]

Appendix G--Interconnection Requirements for Wind Generators

    Appendix G sets forth additional requirements and provisions 
specific to wind generating plants.

A. Standards Applicable to Wind Generators

i. Low Voltage Ride-Through (LVRT) Standard

    Wind generating plants shall demonstrate the ability to remain 
online during voltage disturbances up to the time periods and 
associated voltage levels set forth in Figure 1, below. The 
requirements apply to voltage measured at the high voltage side of 
the wind plant substation transformer(s). The figure shows the ratio 
of actual to nominal voltage (on the vertical axis) over time (on 
the horizontal axis). Before time 0.0, the voltage at the 
transformer is the nominal voltage. At time 0.0, the voltage drops. 
If the voltage remains at a level greater than 15 percent of the 
nominal voltage for a period that does not exceed 0.625 seconds, the 
plant must stay online. Further, if the voltage returns to 90 
percent of the nominal voltage within 3 seconds of the beginning of 
the voltage drop

[[Page 4797]]

(with the voltage at any given time never falling below the minimum 
voltage indicated by the solid line in Figure 1), the plant must 
stay online. The Interconnection Customer may not disable low 
voltage ride-through equipment while the wind plant is in operation.
    Two key features of this proposed regulation are:
    1. A wind generating plant must have LVRT capability down to 15 
percent of the rated line voltage for 0.625 seconds;
    2. A wind generating plant must be able to operate continuously 
at 90 percent of the rated line voltage, measured at the high 
voltage side of the wind plant substation transformer(s).
    The wind generating plant may ask the Transmission Provider for 
a variation of the parameters of this regulation, and the 
Transmission Provider may agree to such a variation provided it does 
so on a comparable and not unduly discriminatory basis among wind 
generators. The Transmission Provider may waive the low voltage 
ride-through requirement on a comparable and not unduly 
discriminatory basis for all wind plants.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP31JA05.006

ii. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Capability

    The wind plant shall provide SCADA capability to transmit data 
and receive instructions from the Transmission Provider. The 
Transmission Provider and the wind plant Interconnection Customer 
shall determine what SCADA information is essential for the proposed 
wind plant, taking into account the size of the plant, its 
characteristics, location, and importance in maintaining generation 
resource adequacy and transmission system reliability in its area.

iii. Power Factor Design Criteria (Reactive Power)

    A wind plant shall maintain a power factor within the range of 
0.95 leading to 0.95 lagging, measured at the high voltage side of 
the wind plant substation transformer(s). The power factor range 
requirement can be met by using, for example, power electronics 
designed to supply this level of reactive capability (taking into 
account any limitations due to voltage level, real power output, 
etc.) or fixed and switched capacitors if agreed to by the 
Transmission Provider, or a combination of the two. The 
Interconnection Customer shall not disable power factor equipment 
while the wind plant is in operation. Wind plants shall also be able 
to provide sufficient dynamic voltage support in lieu of the power 
system stabilizer and automatic voltage regulation at the generator 
excitation system if the Interconnection System Impact Study shows 
this to be required for system reliability.
    The Transmission Provider may agree to waive or defer compliance 
with the reactive power standard. However, any such waiver or 
exemption must be considered a non-conforming agreement pursuant to 
section 11.3 of the LGIP.

[FR Doc. 05-1693 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P