Holland & Hart Releases White Paper on Transmission Siting Challenges in the Western United States
DENVER (August 20, 2009) - The electric transmission system in the western United States is currently inadequate to accommodate future energy needs, especially considering the increasing demand for renewable energy. Complicating transmission expansion are the myriad federal, state, and local requirements that govern siting, construction, and operation of transmission systems.
Using this premise as a starting point, Holland & Hart LLP has released a new white paper by attorneys James Holtkamp and Mark Davidson, titled “Transmission Siting in the Western United States: Overview and Recommendations Prepared as Information to the Western Interstate Energy Board."
Holtkamp and Davidson outline in the white paper the current regulatory systems of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming and recommend that those states incorporate their respective best practices into a regional transmission siting regime.
Holtkamp and Davidson stress in the white paper how serious the need is for a coordinated and rational approach to transmission project siting. Such an approach would assure protection of environmental and other critical interests, incorporate ample opportunity for input from affected stakeholders, allow for reasonable recovery of costs, and place a priority on the compelling interests in modernizing the transmission grid.
The white paper is available by clicking here.
About the Authors
James Holtkamp is the Manager of the Global Climate Change Practice Group at Holland & Hart and is resident in the Firm's Salt Lake City office. He has actively represented industry and government clients in various environmental, natural resources and energy project development issues throughout the United States and overseas. In particular, Holtkamp is extensively involved in climate change issues, in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe. He is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Utah.
Mark Davidson has participated in virtually every significant electric utility rate, resource planning, transmission siting, and cost recovery case in Colorado over the past 20 years. Practicing before several regulatory agencies, having represented the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, electric and gas utilities, large customers and third-party power providers, has given him a unique perspective on the regulatory process and the needs of clients. In addition, his work on the bankruptcy of an electric generation and transmission utility provided valuable insights into what it takes to keep a utility financially viable.