Montana gov wants in on Frontier Line electrical transmission route. Economy relies on improved grid, FERC chief says

Determined to bring a clean coal program to the Big Sky State, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said this week he will seek to expand an existing electrical transmission route that extends from central Montana to the Pacific Northwest and down to California.

He said for the past year, Montana has been on the outside looking in to the Frontier Line project — a four-state effort among Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California.

In concept, the Frontier Line would originate in Wyoming where the state — and presumably surrounding states — would add 6,000 megawatts of new coal-based and renewable electrical generation for delivery to points along the southwestern route.

By DUSTIN BLEIZEFFER
Star-Tribune energy reporter

Full Story: http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2006/04/19/news/top_story/e3a2409390f7536d8725715400828e47.txt

***

Economy relies on improved grid, FERC chief says

By DUSTIN BLEIZEFFER
Star-Tribune energy reporter

SAN DIEGO — People in the West expect chairlifts to keep rolling in Steamboat Springs, Colo. They expect computer screens in Arizona classrooms to continue glowing.

In fact, the future of the entire Western economy depends largely on whether states and utilities can agree on how to share costs and recover investments on a Western electrical grid system that will keep the power flowing even as populations grow here, a top federal official said.

"The interstate grid is the highway for interstate commerce and economy. … The rules for access to that interstate highway system have to be fair," said Joseph Kelliher, chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Full Story: http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2006/04/19/news/wyoming/8576014996c1c1b88725715400836766.txt