Transcript 05- Regional Update December 2015 Updated:2015-12-14 10:50 CS

Chelsea Loomis, Regional Electric Transmission Planning
NTTG Update
• Finalizing the Regional Transmission
Plan
• Holding off on 2016 work until 2016
• New Chair and Vice Chair for
Planning Committee elected for
2016-2017
EPA 111 d Study Work
• NWE initiative to study the
transmission system under an EPA
111 d World
• High-level, Reliability study
• Examined impacts on
– Local Area
– Import/Export capability
– South of Great Falls
Study Assumptions
• Light and Heavy Loading
– Dispatch levels
• 3 scenarios
– 1. No coal, no 500 kV
– 2. No coal, no other changes
– 3. No coal, addition of 2520 MW wind
– All three scenarios with the addition of
250 MW gas plant in Billings
Findings
• Local area will have to have
infrastructure work
• Imports/Exports less if no 500 kV
• SoGF will need work if no 500 kV
What ifs?
• NWE replaces coal with renewables?
• NWE builds a gas plant in Billings?
• NWE builds a new 230 kV out of
Great Falls if no 500 kV?
Conclusions
• No coal world feasible WITH many
infrastructure changes
• It’s a game-changer.