Dive Summary:
- Electric Transmission Texas, LLC (ETT) has energized the first of seven 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line projects to be completed this year for the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ).
- The $1.5 billion CREZ initiative will energize 2,400 miles of transmission lines to carry 18,500 megawatts (MW) of wind energy from west to east through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
- ETT, a joint venture between subsidiaries of American Electric Power and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, will implement 20% of the Texas CREZ initiative, making it one of the largest and most demanding transmission construction projects in AEP’s history.
From the article:
The Riley to Edith Clarke transmission line and the Edith Clarke switching station were energized to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid on July 31. The 345-kV Riley to Edith Clarke transmission line is 41.6 miles long and runs from the Vernon area in Wilbarger County to the Crowell area in Foard County. This phase of the ETT CREZ program represents approximately $141.5 million of ETT's estimated total CREZ investment of approximately $1.5 billion.
Energizing the Riley to Edith Clarke line completes the first of the seven greenfield 345-kV transmission projects assigned to ETT as part of the CREZ initiative. The overall CREZ initiative involves eight different transmission service providers, including ETT, constructing 2,400 miles of transmission lines to carry 18,500 megawatts of west Texas wind generation to eastern load centers in ERCOT. All CREZ projects are scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. ETT received the second largest assignment of CREZ projects from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT).