TransWest Express

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| image1 =[http://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/blm/wy/information/NEPA/hddo/twe/maps2.Par.49813.File.dat/ProjLocationMap.pdf Overview of route map]

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The TWE is designed as a bipolar 600kV overhead power line {{convert|728|mi}} long, and can transfer a maximum power of 3,000 megawatts at ±600 kV.

HVDC lines such as Intermountain Path 27 and the Pacific DC Intertie Path 65 can be distinguished by having two transmission wires, rather than the three necessary for transmission of three phase AC power.

The TWE is one of 7 projects tracked by the federal Rapid Response Team for Transmission. Gateway West and Hemingway are two other projects intended to transmit power between Wyoming and the Pacific West Coast.{{Cite web |url=https://etrans.energy.gov/utility/Search.seam |title=Federal Permitting Transmission Tracking System |access-date=2017-01-22 |archive-date=2017-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122184058/https://etrans.energy.gov/utility/Search.seam |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://etrans.energy.gov/defaultmap.pdf |title=Map of tracked transmission projects |access-date=2017-01-22 |archive-date=2016-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222054058/https://etrans.energy.gov/defaultmap.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url= https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/interagency-rapid-response-team-for-transmission |title=Interagency Rapid Response Team for Transmission|date=28 October 2009|via= National Archives |work= whitehouse.gov |access-date=19 April 2016}}{{cite web|url= https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ceq/Press_Releases/October_28_2009 |title=CEQ Press Releases - Nine Federal Agencies Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Transmission Siting on Federal Lands|date=28 October 2009|via= National Archives |work= whitehouse.gov |access-date=19 April 2016}}

Although the line ends in Nevada, there is around 10 GW transmission capacity between Las Vegas and San Diego/Los Angeles in Path 46,[http://energy.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/energynvgov/content/NEAC_FinalRpt-Section4-StrategicTransmissionDiscussion.pdf NEAC Strategic Transmission Discussion. Western states map], page 4-6 and 4-9{{cite web |title=California's Major Electric Transmission Lines |url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/infrastructure/transmission_lines.html |publisher=California Energy Commission |access-date=2015-08-17 |date=2015-05-04 |archive-date=2015-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905071152/http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/infrastructure/transmission_lines.html |url-status=dead }} enabling power to continue to the west coast.

TWE started in 2005 when the Arizona Public Service Company investigated ways of transferring power from the Rocky Mountains to the west. In 2008 The Anschutz Corporation acquired the project, and Western Area Power Administration became a partner in 2010.[http://www.transwestexpress.net/about/history.shtml TWE History and background][http://www.transwestexpress.net/about/docs/PSC-Utah-Exhibit-E.pdf TransWest Express and Gateway South], 2007 Anschutz also owns the Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project (CCSM) near the Wyoming terminal; an area which has a wind capacity factor around 46%. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued environmental approval in December 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.globaltransmission.info/archive.php?id=28400|title=Global Transmission Report : TransWest Express Project, US|publisher=|date=6 January 2017|access-date=22 January 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202005442/http://www.globaltransmission.info/archive.php?id=28400|url-status=dead}} and WAPA did so in January 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.rawlinstimes.com/news/environmental-analysis-concludes-for-transwest/|title=Environmental analysis concludes for TransWest|date=18 January 2017|work=Rawlins Times|access-date=22 January 2017|quote=This closes out that overall environmental process}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Zephyr Power Transmission Project is a similar project of bringing Wyoming wind power to California,{{Cite web |url=http://www.datcllc.com/projects/zephyr/ |title=Zephyr Power Transmission Project — A transmission project to connect Wyoming wind to the Southwestern U.S. |access-date=2017-07-02 |archive-date=2017-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618120822/http://www.datcllc.com/projects/zephyr/ |url-status=dead }} with an optional storage facility in Utah.{{Cite web |url=http://hybridbulkenergystorage.com/hbes/ |title=Pathfinder Hybrid Bulk Energy Storage — Pathfinder Hybrid Bulk Energy Storage |access-date=2017-07-02 |archive-date=2017-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619170255/http://hybridbulkenergystorage.com/hbes/ |url-status=dead }} The Gateway West Transmission Line between Glenrock, Wyoming and Idaho also received approval.{{cite web|url= https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-authorizes-routes-final-segments-gateway-west-transmission-line |title=BLM Authorizes Routes for Final Segments of Gateway West Transmission Line |publisher= BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR |date=20 January 2017|access-date=22 January 2017}} TWE, CCSM and the Plains&Eastern powerline are being considered by the US Administration.{{cite web|url= https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3409546-Emergency-NatSec50Projects-121416-1-Reduced.html |title=Emergency and National Security list |last= |first= |date= |pages=11, 18, 19 |website= |publisher=President-elect Trump |access-date=25 January 2017 |quote=}}

The line is expected to cost $3 billion. Due to California's RPS requirement of 33% by 2020, NREL analysts estimate that the line saves $500 million to around $1 billion per year for Californian consumers, compared to Californian alternatives. NREL calculates that TWE has a benefit-cost ratio (BCA) between 1.62 and 3.62 if delivering 12 TWh/year with a transmission cost of $29 per MWh.D. Corbus, D. Hurlbut, P. Schwabe, E. Ibanez, M. Milligan, G. Brinkman, A. Paduru, V. Diakov, and M. Hand. "[http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/61192.pdf California-Wyoming Grid Integration Study]", page vi-xii. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, March 2014. NREL/TP-6A20-61192 If transmission utilities use a BCA-threshold, they must set it at 1.25 or lower to find out if projects are feasible."[https://web.archive.org/web/20110725102137/http://www.ferc.gov/whats-new/comm-meet/2011/072111/E-6.pdf Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation by Transmission Owning and Operating Public Utilities] page 425. 18 CFR Part 35 [Docket No. RM10-23-000; Order No. 1000] Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Issued July 21, 2011. Quote: "a threshold may not include a ratio of benefits to costs that exceeds 1.25" [http://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/trans-plan.asp Main page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120215326/https://www.ferc.gov/industries/electric/indus-act/trans-plan.asp |date=2017-01-20 }}{{cite web|url= http://www.natlawreview.com/article/favorable-winds-continue-to-blow-transwest-express-transmission-project |title=Favorable Winds Continue to Blow for TransWest Express Transmission Project|work=The National Law Review |author=Thomas J. Dougherty|date=30 March 2014|access-date=19 April 2016}} The power from Wyoming is eligible for Californian subsidy because TWE delivers it to the Californian grid, "at the doorstep" of California, near Las Vegas. Californian power prices are usually around $45 to $65/MWh.{{cite news|url= https://psmag.com/how-a-conservative-billionaire-is-moving-heaven-and-earth-to-become-the-biggest-alternative-energy-24e2663a0d66 |title=How a Conservative Billionaire Is Moving Heaven and Earth to Become the Biggest Alternative Energy Giant in the Country |author=Gabriel Kahn|work=Pacific Standard |date=29 June 2015|access-date=19 April 2016 |quote=take wind-generated electricity straight from Wyoming across Colorado, Utah, and Nevada and dump it into a substation on the California-Nevada border — a location that technically was part of the California grid}}

The northern terminal and substation converting from alternating current to direct current is expected to be south of Rawlins in Wyoming, near the Chokecherry wind farm. The line then runs south of the Uinta Mountains through Colorado and Utah. The Colorado section has been criticized as disturbing for sage-grouse.{{cite web|url= http://insideenergy.org/2015/04/19/birds-vs-blades-wind-powers-threat-to-the-sage-grouse/ |title=Birds Vs. Blades: Wind Power's Threat To The Sage Grouse|author=Dan Boyce|date=19 April 2015|work=Inside Energy|access-date=19 April 2016}} The DC line has only two connection points, one at each end. Utah attempted to legislate a requirement to reserve 25% capacity for power from Utah, but lobbying by TWE kept full capacity to TWE.

The part of the line that travels between Delta in Utah and Las Vegas shares its route with Path 27 (Intermountain line). Delta may become a connection point in the future.

The southern terminal and substation to convert back from DC to AC is at the Marketplace substation south of Las Vegas and Boulder, Nevada.

• High-voltage direct current
• List of HVDC projects
• WECC Intertie Paths

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.transwestexpress.net/}}
• [http://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-new-transmission-will-bring-wyoming-wind-to-california/307247/ How new transmission will bring Wyoming wind to California]

{{Power Transmission Corridors of the Western United States}}

{{Energy resource facilities in Nevada}}

Category:Western Interconnection

Category:HVDC transmission lines