Department of Energy December 6, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice extends the close of comment for scoping from the previously published May 13, 2005 to January 5, 2006. BPA is preparing its Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). BPA is currently considering a proposed interconnection requested by PPM Energy, Inc. (PPM), to integrate electrical power from their proposed Klondike III Wind Project into the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS). The EIS will now also include a proposed interconnection requested by an additional wind developer, Orion Energy, LLC (Orion) to integrate electrical power from their proposed Biglow Canyon Wind Farm Project. BPA published a NOI to prepare an EIS for the Klondike III Wind Project in the Federal Register on February 11, 2005. After receiving comments during the scoping period that suggested combining the interconnections of these two projects, and receiving an interconnection request from Orion, BPA has decided to include both projects in the same EIS and change the name of the EIS to Klondike III/Biglow Canyon Wind Integration Project EIS. Both proposed wind projects are located in Sherman County, Oregon. BPA proposes to execute agreements with both developers to provide them with an interconnection for up to 700 megawatts (MW) of generation (300 MW from Klondike III, 400 MW from Biglow Canyon). Interconnection would require BPA to build and operate a new double-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line, a new 230-kV substation, and to expand an existing 500-kV substation. BPA also intends to consider the impacts of building another substation in the area. Because more local wind generation projects are expected to be constructed in the coming years, a substation is likely to be needed in this area to integrate them into BPA's transmission system; however, another substation is not needed at this time.

Section 962 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), (42 U.S.C. 16292), directed the Secretary of Energy to conduct coal research and development programs and, in carrying out such programs, to identify proposed draft cost and performance goals for coal-based technologies that would permit the continued cost-competitive use of coal for the production of electricity, chemical feedstocks, and transportation fuels. In compliance with section 962(b) of EPAct, this notice requests public comment on the proposed goals.