AEP Joint Venture Releases Results of SMARTransmission Study

Electric Transmission America (ETA), a transmission joint venture between subsidiaries of American Electric Power and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, released the Phase Two report for a study of the transmission needed in the Upper Midwest to support renewable energy development and transport that energy to population and electricity load centers.

The Strategic Midwest Area Renewable Transmission Study (SMARTransmission Study) evaluated extra-high voltage transmission alternatives designed to support the integration of 56.8 gigawatts (GW) of nameplate wind generation within the study area, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Michigan and Ohio. This translates into enough energy to power more than 15 million households.

The SMARTransmission study’s goal was to develop a 20-year transmission plan that ensures reliable electricity transport, provides an efficient transmission system to integrate new generation and foster efficient markets, minimizes environmental impacts, and supports state and national energy policies.
“The SMARTransmission study evaluated a variety of transmission options and presents three conceptual transmission expansion plans that would be capable of reliably transporting nearly 57 gigawatts of wind-generated power to load centers in the eastern part of the study area,” said Lisa Barton, ETA president.

For more details see the release from AEP.

Both SMARTransmission reports can be downloaded at www.smartstudy.biz.