by C.F. David
According to documents obtained online by The Boise City News, from the office of The Oklahoma Secretary of State, in about mid-June, Worldwide Energy filed to intervene in Docket(s) to be heard by the Texas Public Commission.
According to the documents, Worldwide Energy is exploring ways to build transmission facilties in Texas that would allow interconnection with small power producers, specifically wind power.
Worldwide is, according to the documents, interested in connecting an Oklahoma Wind Farm, (as yet unbuilt), to the Electric Relialbilty Council of Texas, (ERCOT). Worldwide also wrote that they wished to accomplish this consistant with the Texas PUC, and without placing ERCOT under any more control of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, (FERC), than it already is.
The application for intervention points out that one possible point of connection would be in a Competitive Renewable Enbergy Zone, (CREZ), identified as Panhandle B, plus two other proposed points that as of now fall outside any specific CREZ.
The motion continues that the potential for such lines has been proven by Tenaska Power, (A power service headquarted in Dallas-Fort Worth, which according to their online maps connect from Southeastern Oklahoma to Northeastern Texas).
The motion points out that the docket(s) are explicit for the purpose of setting criteria for the elgibility and selection of Transmission Service Providers, (TSPs), and that Worldwide’s entry into the electric transmission could be dependent on the PUC’s decison(s).
PUC Meets
On Feb. 26, the Texas Public Utility Commission met to cover Docket 35665, The Selection of Entities Responsible for Transmission Improvements Necessary to Deliver Renewable Energy From Competitive Renewable Energy Zones.
According to the minutes of the meeting, obtained by The Boise City News, the collection point of interest to Worldwide Energy, Panhandle B was intercected by two different TSPs, Sharyland, and Cross Texas.
One of the PUC Commissioners pointed out that there was as yet, little change, since the area hadn’t been identified as a CREZ project, and so, some assignments would be made for the sake of expediency.
Commissioner Nelson told the others, “You know I don’t know if you-all have thoughts. I don’t have a problem with letting ERCOT address it as long as it doesn’t delay anything.”
Chairman Smitherman indicated he was comfortable with that decision.
Commisioner Anderson if anyone had requested the project.
Commissioner Jackson, said “No that was the rub, that it’s a collection station that was not part of the CREZ transmission plan.
Anderson, “On this particular one, I think we can let it go to ERCOT with the strong inference that we don’t want a prolonged fight over it.”
Smitherman then asked who the area would be assigned to, Sharyland, or Cross Texas.
Anderson asked if representives were present.
Rich Noland of Sharyland spoke first, telling the Commission that both TSPs were interested, but pointed out that Sharyland had done the original proposal.
Jim Checkly, of Cross Texas, told the commission that his comapny had made a request, and wanted the job.
“Cross Texas will build it,” he said.
Checkly then told the commission that if Sharlyland was given the Panhandle B they would have four transmission lines and that at present Cross Texas, only had one.
Noland then asked if he could offer one more thing in Sharyland’s favor.
Noland pointed out that Sharyland already had two lines going into the collection station, to Cross Texas’ one. Noland continued that with two lines Sharyland already had twice the equipment on site.
“There’s a reccommendation for Sharyland. I’m comfortable with that,”Smitherman said.
Anderson agreed.
“Sharyland it is,” Smitherman said.
The Boise City News made an effort, (by e-mail), to contact Worldwide President Gideon Cowan and Executive V.P. Randle Taylor, for their comments on Sharyland getting the go ahead, and if the Commission’s decision had helped their company’s plans. There was no response.
In the past, (prior to Feb. 18), Cowan has referred all questions to spokeswoman Doris Lee McCoy, and when The Boise City News made an effort to talk to Taylor, we were asked to sign a non-disclosure document.
