Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Electric System Reliability; Notice of Technical Conference, 13892-13893 [2021-05067]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 13892 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 46 / Thursday, March 11, 2021 / Notices Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: SCE submits New TO Tariff Appendix XIV, Morongo Transmission WOD Formula Rate to be effective 5/5/2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5131. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1281–000. Applicants: Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. Description: Annual Informational Attachment O filing of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5145. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1282–000. Applicants: Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. Description: Annual Informational Attachment H filing of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5147. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1283–000. Applicants: New York Independent System Operator, Inc., Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 205: Joint TPIA among NYISO, NMPC and Transco, SA 2599 to be effective 2/19/ 2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5152. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1284–000. Applicants: New York State Electric & Gas Corporation. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Revisions to 2020 Facilities Agreement Update to be effective 3/6/2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5183. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1285–000. Applicants: NSTAR Electric Company. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: Design and Engineering Agreement ? Vineyard Wind LLC to be effective 3/6/ 2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5196. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1286–000. Applicants: New York Independent System Operator, Inc. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 205: NYISO ISO–NE Coordination Agreement to be effective 5/5/2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5197. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1287–000. Applicants: Public Service Company of Colorado. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Mar 10, 2021 Jkt 253001 Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2021–03–05_OATT Gen Mod & Replcmt Proc to be effective 5/5/2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5213. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. Docket Numbers: ER21–1288–000. Applicants: California Independent System Operator Corporation. Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing: 2021–03–05 Transmission Control Agreement Amendment to Add Morongo Transmission to be effective 5/ 6/2021. Filed Date: 3/5/21. Accession Number: 20210305–5246. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 3/26/21. The filings are accessible in the Commission’s eLibrary system (https:// elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/ fercgensearch.asp) by querying the docket number. Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the proceeding. eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying facilities filings can be found at: https://www.ferc.gov/ docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call (866) 208–3676 (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659. Dated: March 5, 2021. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–05069 Filed 3–10–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. AD21–13–000] Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Electric System Reliability; Notice of Technical Conference Take notice that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) staff will convene a technical conference to discuss issues surrounding the threat to electric system reliability posed by climate change and extreme weather events. Commissioners may attend and participate in the technical conference. Reliable electric service is vital to the nation’s economy, national security, and PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 public health and safety, and prolonged power outages can have significant humanitarian consequences, as the nation recently witnessed in Texas and the south-central United States. This technical conference will address concerns that because extreme weather events are increasing in frequency,1 intensity, geographic expanse, and duration, the number and severity of weather-induced events in the electric power industry may also increase.2 This technical conference will also address the specific challenges posed to electric system reliability by climate change and extreme weather, which may vary by region. For example, addressing the reliability challenges associated with wildfires may not be appropriate in a region where a different challenge, such as weather-driven fuel supply interruptions, is more likely to occur. Through this proceeding in Docket No. AD21–13–000, the Commission seeks to understand the near, medium and long-term challenges facing the regions of the country; how decisionmakers in the regions are evaluating and addressing those challenges; and whether further action from the Commission is needed to help achieve an electric system that can withstand, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events. The technical conference will be held on the afternoons of Tuesday, June 1, 2021 and Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from approximately 1 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time each day. The technical conference will be held via teleconference (over WebEx) and will be open to the public. Registration for the conference is not required and there is no fee for attendance. A supplemental notice will be issued seeking comments prior to the technical conference. Following comment submissions, an additional supplemental notice will be issued with further details regarding the technical conference agenda, as well as 1 According to a recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, extreme weather events topping $1 billion in estimated damages and costs are occurring with increasing frequency. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. BillionDollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2021). https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/, https:// www.doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73. 2 See, e.g., Quadrennial Energy Review, Transforming the Nation’s Electricity System: The Second Installment of the QER, January 2017 at 4– 2 (‘‘The leading cause of power outages in the United States is extreme weather, including heat waves, blizzards, thunderstorms, and hurricanes. Events with severe consequences are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, and these events have been the principal contributors to an observed increase in the frequency and duration of power outages in the United States.’’). E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM 11MRN1 13893 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 46 / Thursday, March 11, 2021 / Notices any changes in timing or logistics. Information will also be posted on the Calendar of Events on the Commission’s website, www.ferc.gov, prior to the event. The conference will be transcribed. Transcripts will be available for a fee from Ace Reporting, (202) 347–3700. Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations, please send an email to accessibility@ferc.gov, call toll-free (866) 208–3372 (voice) or (202) 208–8659 (TTY), or send a fax to (202) 208–2106 with the required accommodations. Individuals interested in participating as panelists should self-nominate through the WebEx registration form by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at: https://ferc.webex.com/ ferc/onstage/ g.php?MTID=eff91ed43b5be08b 7808828631394b5c5. For more information about this technical conference, please contact Rahim Amerkhail, 202–502–8266, rahim.amerkhail@ferc.gov for technical questions or Sarah McKinley, 202–502– 8368, sarah.mckinley@ferc.gov for logistical issues. Dated: March 5, 2021. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–05067 Filed 3–10–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Project No. 2533–062] khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Brainerd Public Utilities; Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Licensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection. a. Type of Application: New Major License. b. Project No.: 2533–062. c. Date Filed: March 1, 2021. d. Applicant: Brainerd Public Utilities. e. Name of Project: Brainerd Hydroelectric Project (Brainerd Project). f. Location: The Brainerd Project is located on the Mississippi River, in the City of Brainerd, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. The project does not occupy federal land. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Mar 10, 2021 Jkt 253001 g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)–825(r). h. Applicant Contact: Scott Magnuson, Superintendent, Brainerd Public Utilities, 8027 Highland Scenic Road, P.O. Box 273, Brainerd, MN 56401. Phone (218) 825–3213 or email at smagnuson@bpu.org. i. FERC Contact: Patrick Ely at (202) 502–8570 or email at patrick.ely@ ferc.gov. j. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time. k. The Brainerd Project consists of: (1) A short left embankment; (2) a 256-footlong powerhouse containing five turbine generators with a totaled installed capacity of 2.9425 megawatts (MW); (3) a 78-foot-long slide gate section; (4) a 207-foot-long bascule (crest) gate section; (5) a single 20-foot-wide steel Tainter gate; (6) a 200-foot-long right embankment; (7) a 236-foot-long, 2.4kilovolt overhead transmission line; (8) a 25-foot-high dam; and (9) 2,500-acre impoundment. The Brainerd Project is operated in a run-of-river mode with an estimated annual energy production of approximately 19,392 megawatt hours. Brainerd Public Utilities proposes to continue operating the project as a runof-river facility and does not propose any new construction to the project. A license amendment allows for a sixth turbine generator unit, which would increase the total installed capacity to 3.5425 MW. The sixth turbine generator unit has not yet been installed. See 156 FERC ¶ 62,045 (2016). l. A copy of the application can be viewed on the Commission’s website at https://www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19) issued on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (866) 208–3676 or (202) 502– 8659 (TTY). m. You may also register online at https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support. n. Procedural schedule: The application will be processed according to the following preliminary schedule. Revisions to the schedule will be made as appropriate. PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Milestone Issue Deficiency Letter (if necessary). Request Additional Information. Notice of Acceptance/Notice of Ready for Environmental Analysis. Target date April 2021. April 2021. August 2021. o. Final amendments to the application must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days from the issuance date of the notice of ready for environmental analysis. Dated: March 5, 2021. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2021–05064 Filed 3–10–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. AD21–9–000] The Office of Public Participation; Notice of Virtual Listening Sessions and a Public Comment Period Take notice that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) staff will convene, in the abovereferenced proceeding, virtual listening sessions from March 17, 2021 to March 25, 2021, to solicit public input on how the Commission should establish and operate the Office of Public Participation (OPP) pursuant to section 319 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 825q–1). The public may also submit written comments by April 23, 2021. The listening sessions will be led by Commission staff, and may be attended by one or more Commissioners. In December 2020, Congress directed the Commission to provide a report, by June 25, 2021, detailing its progress towards establishing the OPP. Section 319 of the FPA directs the Commission to establish the OPP to ‘‘coordinate assistance to the public with respect to authorities exercised by the Commission,’’ including assistance to those seeking to intervene in Commission proceedings. (16 U.S.C. 825q–1). A February 22, 2021 notice announced a Commissioner-led workshop to be held on April 16, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, and requested speaker nominations by March 10, 2021. The February 22, 2021 notice can be found on the Commission’s website and eLibrary. Commission staff plan to hold listening sessions to hear from several E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM 11MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13892-13893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05067]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD21-13-000]


Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Electric System Reliability; 
Notice of Technical Conference

    Take notice that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) 
staff will convene a technical conference to discuss issues surrounding 
the threat to electric system reliability posed by climate change and 
extreme weather events. Commissioners may attend and participate in the 
technical conference.
    Reliable electric service is vital to the nation's economy, 
national security, and public health and safety, and prolonged power 
outages can have significant humanitarian consequences, as the nation 
recently witnessed in Texas and the south-central United States. This 
technical conference will address concerns that because extreme weather 
events are increasing in frequency,\1\ intensity, geographic expanse, 
and duration, the number and severity of weather-induced events in the 
electric power industry may also increase.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ According to a recent report from the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, extreme weather events topping $1 
billion in estimated damages and costs are occurring with increasing 
frequency. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 
(NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2021). 
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/, https://www.doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73.
    \2\ See, e.g., Quadrennial Energy Review, Transforming the 
Nation's Electricity System: The Second Installment of the QER, 
January 2017 at 4-2 (``The leading cause of power outages in the 
United States is extreme weather, including heat waves, blizzards, 
thunderstorms, and hurricanes. Events with severe consequences are 
becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, and these 
events have been the principal contributors to an observed increase 
in the frequency and duration of power outages in the United 
States.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This technical conference will also address the specific challenges 
posed to electric system reliability by climate change and extreme 
weather, which may vary by region. For example, addressing the 
reliability challenges associated with wildfires may not be appropriate 
in a region where a different challenge, such as weather-driven fuel 
supply interruptions, is more likely to occur.
    Through this proceeding in Docket No. AD21-13-000, the Commission 
seeks to understand the near, medium and long-term challenges facing 
the regions of the country; how decisionmakers in the regions are 
evaluating and addressing those challenges; and whether further action 
from the Commission is needed to help achieve an electric system that 
can withstand, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events.
    The technical conference will be held on the afternoons of Tuesday, 
June 1, 2021 and Wednesday, June 2, 2021 from approximately 1 p.m. to 
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time each day. The technical conference will be held 
via teleconference (over WebEx) and will be open to the public. 
Registration for the conference is not required and there is no fee for 
attendance. A supplemental notice will be issued seeking comments prior 
to the technical conference. Following comment submissions, an 
additional supplemental notice will be issued with further details 
regarding the technical conference agenda, as well as

[[Page 13893]]

any changes in timing or logistics. Information will also be posted on 
the Calendar of Events on the Commission's website, www.ferc.gov, prior 
to the event. The conference will be transcribed. Transcripts will be 
available for a fee from Ace Reporting, (202) 347-3700.
    Commission conferences are accessible under section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations, please 
send an email to [email protected], call toll-free (866) 208-3372 
(voice) or (202) 208-8659 (TTY), or send a fax to (202) 208-2106 with 
the required accommodations.
    Individuals interested in participating as panelists should self-
nominate through the WebEx registration form by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at: https://ferc.webex.com/ferc/onstage/g.php?MTID=eff91ed43b5be08b7808828631394b5c5.
    For more information about this technical conference, please 
contact Rahim Amerkhail, 202-502-8266, [email protected] for 
technical questions or Sarah McKinley, 202-502-8368, 
[email protected] for logistical issues.

    Dated: March 5, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-05067 Filed 3-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

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