Understanding how to integrate wind resources into the existing grid is important.

To help understand how to integrate wind into Nevada's system, the Nevada State Office of Energy worked with the Department of Energy to create the "Northwestern Consortia to Study the Regional Wind Development Benefits of Upgrades to Nevada's Transmission Systems" or the

Task 1: Wind Characterization in Nevada and Southern Idaho

Nevada and Idaho wind characterization teams will identify potential wind development areas in northern and central Nevada and southern Idaho and develop estimates of the wind energy potential at these areas.

Task 2: Transmission Studies in Eastern Nevada and Southern Idaho 

Transmission planners at Sierra Pacific Resources will complete transmissions studies to identify prospective transmission alternatives that provide the wind development areas identified in Eastern Nevada and Southern Idaho with access to the Mead trading hub.  The Mead trading hub is a major trading hub for southern Nevada, southern California, Arizona and New Mexico.  

Task 3: Transmission Studies In Western Nevada

Transmission planners at Sierra Pacific Resources will complete transmission studies to identify prospective transmission alternatives that provide the wind development areas identified in western Nevada with access to the Mid C and SP15 trading hubs via a tap of the DC Intertie.  Mid C and SP15 hubs are major trading hubs for the Pacific Northwest and Southern California respectively.

Task 4: Outreach Activities

The Nevada State Office of Energy will coordinate outreach activities to the project stakeholders.

Task 5: Drafting Of White Paper

The project participants will develop an Integrated Wind Energy and Transmission Report suitable for presentation to the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Western Interstate Energy Board for the resource planning deliberations of these respective bodies.