A Well-Connected Western Grid Benefits Birds and Communities

On June thirtieth, a historic Joint Assertion of Settlement was signed on the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) Annual Assembly to strengthen coordination on transmission planning throughout the Intermountain West. This bipartisan Settlement marks a significant milestone for the area’s power future. It additionally displays a shared dedication to modernizing the electrical grid so it could actually ship reasonably priced, dependable energy whereas supporting the clear power transition and serving to deal with the local weather disaster for birds and other people. 

All through the method, Audubon labored alongside companions to assist inform the settlement and construct assist throughout the area by means of trusted relationships and science-based collaboration. As Audubon’s Birds and Transmission report lays out, local weather change is likely one of the best long-term threats to birds, and there’s no path to stabilizing the local weather with out dramatically altering how we generate and transport electrical energy. Considerate and early collaboration can assist make sure that infrastructure is deliberate and sited to keep away from, reduce, and mitigate impacts on birds and communities. 

Whereas electrical energy does stream throughout western state borders day by day, transmission planning and allowing typically happen on a state-by-state and agency-by-agency foundation. This uncoordinated and piecemeal improvement creates inefficiencies, stifles strategic regional improvement, and wastes an unlimited quantity of precious wind and photo voltaic power potential. By supporting coordinated regional planning efforts throughout Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, and Washington, the Joint Statement of Agreement represents an vital shift towards regional coordination. 

 By means of the Settlement, governors in these 11 western states dedicated to supporting the Western Transmission Enlargement Coalition’s (WestTEC) technical analyses that present western states with a shared basis for figuring out transmission wants and alternatives over 10- and 20-year time horizons with the target of building a extra dependable and reasonably priced regional grid. WestTEC’s members symbolize a various set of teams and embrace state and Tribal governments, utilities, planning our bodies, public curiosity organizations, and different stakeholders. 

Recognizing the necessity to coordinate allowing throughout states to speed up the transmission buildout all through the West, the Settlement additionally established the Allowing Alignment & Coordination Process Power (PACT). PACT will probably be a multi-state effort to enhance coordination amongst states and businesses with respect to allowing for transmission building and extra well timed choices with higher environmental and neighborhood outcomes. 

Increasing and modernizing the transmission grid is important to assembly rising electrical energy wants. Ongoing studies by the U.S. Division of Power make it clear that our present grid is unable to fulfill quickly rising shopper and business demand, whereas retaining power payments reasonably priced for households and guaranteeing reliability. As new clear power assets are developed, the grid should be capable to transfer that energy the place it is wanted. A stronger, better-connected transmission system additionally improves reliability, offers shoppers entry to a broader mixture of power assets that may assist stabilize electrical energy prices, and strengthens resilience throughout excessive climate and different disruptions. 

This Settlement demonstrates what’s attainable when states, conservation organizations, utilities, and builders work collectively early within the planning course of. As america continues to modernize and develop its electrical grid, collaborative regional approaches like this can assist guarantee new transmission initiatives ship reasonably priced, dependable clear power whereas reflecting the wants of wildlife and communities. Audubon appears ahead to persevering with to work with companions to keep away from, reduce and offset impacts to birds and their habitats as we assist construct a grid that permits each individuals and birds to thrive.