environmental and cultural data use in planning w estern e lectricity c oordinating c ouncil

W E S T E R N E L E C T R I C I T Y C O O R D I N A T I N G C OU N C I L

Environmental and Cultural Data Use in Planning

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Presentation Overview

• WECC Overview• Environmental Resource Data• Cultural Resource Data

WECC Functions

Non-Planning Functions

Planning Functions

• Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement

• Standards Development• Market-Operations

Interface• Operator Training• WREGIS

• System Adequacy• System Stability • Performance Analysis• Event Analysis• Standards Development

System Adequacy at WECC

• Lead transmission expansion planning for the Western Interconnection

• Annual study program• Congestion studies

Transmission Expansion

Planning Policy Committee

(TEPPC)

• Technical analysis• Studies• Data• Scenarios

Subcommittees and Work

Groups

TEPPCMembers

Transmission Stakeholders

State & Provincial

Entities

Environmental Stakeholders

Tribes

Other Stakeholders

Who Does TEPPC Serve?

Transmission Expansion Planning

• Key Question: How might the transmission grid in the Western Interconnection need to change in 10 or 20 years to meet load reliably with available resources?

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Environmental Data Task Force

Environmental Data Task Force (EDTF)• Formed in June, 2010• Includes representation by broad

stakeholders• Provides input to transmission expansion

planning process

Primary EDTF Products

• Available• Reviewed for Quality• Relevant to Transmission Planning

Preferred Data Sets

• Four Risk Levels• Low Risk (1) to Exclusion Area (4)

Risk Classification System

• Compares relative risks of transmission alternatives• Alternatives identified in long-term study cases• Available for use outside of WECC

Comparison Methodology

• Considers “environmental risk contours”• Also considers cultural risks• Considers capital costs of “bending lines”

Review of Study Case Results

Environmental/Cultural Data (Samples)

Preferred Data

Sensitive Species Areas

Tribal Lands

Conservation Areas

Wilderness Areas

Scenic Management

Areas

Historic Trails

Risk Classification

Category 4• Exclusion Areas

Category 3• High Risk

Category 2• Low-to-moderate risk

Category 1• Lowest Risk

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Benefits of Environmental Data

• Decrease cost and conflict• Avoid delays

Use of Data at Planning Stage

• Avoid or mitigate risks at planning levelEnsure Data

Quality

• Use by federal/state/provincial/ regional entitiesPublic Availability

of Tools

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Example of Use: WECC Long-Term Planning Tool

• Creates transmission expansion options based on study case inputs– Loads, resource costs, fuel prices, carbon cost

• Options are “point-to-point”– Need to “bend the lines”

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Environmental Risk Classes 1-4

• Blue line connects endpoints

• Darker areas = higher risk category

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LTPT With Environmental Overlay

• Semi-transparent EDTF overlay on terrain map

• Semi-transparent corridor over EDTF and terrain maps

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How Can You See the Data?

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WECC Environmental Data Viewer

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Cultural Resource Data

• Cultural resource data differs from environmental resource data– Location of cultural resources is highly sensitive

• Using cultural resource data in transmission planning requires a different approach– Relative density of known cultural sites– Whether and when a location has been surveyed

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Approach to Applying Cultural Data

1. Collect SHPO Data• Known Sites (can be points,

lines, and/or polygons)• Surveyed (inventoried)

Areas

2. Overlay the standard EDTF grid cell (0.5 km2)

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Approach to Applying Cultural Data

• Grid cells that contain any sites are marked as cultural resource grid cell

• Identify the number of grid cells in the “neighborhood” (directly adjacent) to each cell

• Range of 0 to 9

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Cultural Resource Data ApproachDesignation Name Description

Category A Lowest Cultural Resource Risk or Uncertainty

“Low Density” of sites that have been surveyed in the last 10 years

Category B Moderate Cultural Resource Risk or Uncertainty

Areas where a “Low Density” of sites has been identified, but where the survey information is older (>10 years)

Category C High Cultural Resource Risk or Uncertainty

Areas with a “Moderate Site Density” (regardless of when or if a survey has been conducted in the area).

Category D Highest Cultural Resource Risk or Uncertainty

Areas with a “High Site Density” regardless of when or if a survey has been conducted in the area.

Category E Unknown Cultural Resource Risk or Uncertainty

Areas with a zero site density and where no surveys have been conducted.

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Cultural Risk Assignments

Site Density++ Area Surveyed Within Last 10 Years

Area Surveyed Prior to Last 10 Years

Outside Surveyed Area

0 A B E

Low (1-3) A B C

Moderate (4-6) C C C

High (7-9) D D D

Any cell listed as TCP/sacred site

D D D

++Number of grid cells found within the neighborhood

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Cultural Resource Risk Example

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Cultural Resources

• Five states currently committed to sharing cultural resource data

• Others in negotiations

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NVUT

CO

WY

WA

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Ocean and Coastal Data

• Why is WECC concerned with ocean and coastal data?– Increasing off-shore energy development (wind off

of Oregon)– Developmental projects (wave energy off of the

Pacific Coast)– Increasing interest in offshore transmission—

California project

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Ocean and Coastal Data ExamplesCategory Description Examples

1 Lowest Risk

2 Low-to-Medium Risk • Marine protected areas managed for multiple use or with undetermined protection

• High vessel density areas• Existing submarine cable and pipeline ROW

3 High Risk • Marine protected areas subject to “no take” restrictions

• Hard benthic substrate/rock reef• Commercial benthic fishery• Habitat areas of particular concern

4 Exclusion Areas • Marine protected areas subject to “no impact” or “no access” restrictions

• Areas restricted for military use

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Contacts

Environmental Data Task Force Chair

Carl ZichellaNatural Resources Defense Councilczichella@nrdc.org(415) 875-6100

WECC Staff Liaison

Byron WoertzSenior Project Managerbwoertz@wecc.biz(801) 883-6841