The SuperStation, which will be located in Clovis, New Mexico, will provide capability to transfer power between three US power grids or interconnections: the Eastern Interconnection, the Western Interconnection and the Texas Interconnection (also known as Electric Reliability Council of Texas or ERCOT).
The filings require FERC to provide Tres Amigas with negotiated rate authority over the sale of transmission rights through the SuperStation to allow power to be scheduled between the three US power grids, and to preserve the status quo by disclaiming jurisdiction over ERCOT following its connection to the Tres Amigas project.
Phil Harris, CEO of Tres Amigas, said: “Since announcing the Tres Amigas SuperStation in early October 2009, interest in and support for the project has been simply overwhelming. The need for new transmission to take America’s renewable energy from its point of generation in remote areas to where it is needed most is self evident.
“By enabling the exchange of wind, solar and geothermal power between all three grids, the Tres Amigas SuperStation will help break our nation’s transmission bottleneck. We believe the merits of this project and the benefits it will provide to the US warrant FERC approval.”
Multiple power transmission lines from each of the interconnections will feed power into and out of the Tres Amigas SuperStation through superconductor electricity pipelines.
Following FERC approval, Tres Amigas will begin negotiating with transmission companies that would like to connect to the SuperStation. Tres Amigas currently has letters of intent with four transmission companies and is in discussions with others. The project is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2014.
