The Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) recently announced
the availability of its Phase 2A Report – a conceptual transmission
plan that evaluates the usefulness of potential transmission lines in
accessing and delivering renewable energy. The plan is intended to
help enable development and approval of renewable energy
infrastructure in ways that minimize the economic cost, environmental
impacts, and number of new transmission facilities.



The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Energy
Commission, and California Independent System Operator (CAISO) formed
RETI, and were joined by Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
the Northern California Power Agency, and the Southern California
Public Power Authority. RETI is a public-private partnership created
to consider the feasibility of building new transmission lines to
access renewable generation from various areas of the state or
possibly adjoining states and bring the power to population centers.



The first phase of RETI identified areas of the state and adjoining
regions that have high densities of biomass, geothermal, solar, and
wind resources. These areas are referred to as Competitive Renewable
Energy Zones (CREZ). RETI Phase 2 work expanded the evaluation and re-
ranking of CREZs and focused on the development of a statewide
conceptual transmission expansion plan to access the CREZ.



The conceptual transmission plan is designed to meet the goal of
obtaining 33 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable
resources by 2020. RETI says it was created with input from an engaged
Stakeholder Steering Committee comprised of representatives of
environmental groups; renewable developers; public and investor-owned
utilities; state, federal, and local governments; Native American
tribes; and consumers.



Based on information available today regarding the potential for
renewable development, the report:



–Identifies additional transmission capacity to access and deliver
renewable energy to meet the state renewable energy goals in
2020;

–Evaluates relative usefulness of potential lines for accessing the
delivering renewable energy;

–Identifies potential transmission network lines for further detailed
study by the California ISO and electric utilities;

–Locates most conceptual lines in existing right of way and/or
designated utility corridors; and

–Builds in environmental considerations and high level screening of
conceptual transmission lines.



For the RETI Phase 2A report, please visit
target=”new”>http://www.energy.ca.gov/reti/documents/

Source: Clean Edge News