August 15th Minutes of the SB91 Task Force Work Group

SB07-91 Task Force on Renewable Resource Generation Development Areas

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Notice of Task Force Meeting: Monday, September 10, 1:30 P.M.
Colorado State Capitol Basement Hearing Room 0112

The meeting was called to order at 1:40 p.m.

Attendance: Eight members of the Task Force (TF) (Glenn Gibson, Craig Cox, Rick Gilliam, Richard Smart, John Bleem, Ron Larson, David Hurlbut, and Morey Wolfson. These Task Force Members had representatives: Frank Prager (represented by Michelle Sturmer and Rick Thompson), John Nielsen (represented by Susan Innis), and Mac McLennan (represented by Mark McGahey). Others in attendance included: Donna Heimiller, NREL GIS; Suzanne Tegen, NREL economics; Rich Mignona, Colorado Public Utilities Commission; Jeff Hein, Colorado Public Utilities Commission; Dave Newport, University of Colorado; Matt Sares, Colorado Geologic Survey; Robb Walt, Community Energy Corporation; and Dave Skiles, GEO SB91 contractor.

Morey Wolfson welcomed the Work Group and asked for introductions.

The agenda was reviewed. No major revisions were suggested. Mr. Wolfson then provided a quick review of the SB91 TF, including the TF structure, the structure of the meetings (TF and Work Group), a synopsis of the August 6 TF meeting, and the purpose of the instant meeting.

An introduction and review of Geographic Information System (GIS) was provided by Dave Skiles, GEO SB91 contractor. He discussed five basic components, including information how a GIS works with thematic layers of spatial data. He described how GIS answers questions by comparing different layers of data.

A description of the Texas Wind Resource Process was presented by TF Member David Hurlbut, NREL. Mr. Hurlbut described the process that took place in Texas to identify Competitive Renewable Energy Zones.

Dave Skiles then presented information aimed at better defining the exact purpose and methods to get to our charge: defining Generation Development Areas (GDA). His presentation described the minimum elements needed to locate a GDA. The elements included:

• Renewable generation resource type (wind/solar/biomass/geothermal/small hydro)
• Town, city, or county location of the resource (proximity)
• Electric generation resource capacity (in megawatts)
• Suggested filters: transmission, distribution, policies)

Dave Skiles then facilitated the discussion on what should be the SB91 region boundary. The group felt that our maps should contain areas fairly north into Wyoming, and slightly south into New Mexico. However, our maps of out of state areas should focus less on the renewable resources in those states, and more so on the transmission and available transmission capacity entering and leaving Colorado.

Mr. Skiles then led a discussion on preferred approaches towards a Technical Work Plan that would include these phases:

• Phase 1 – Develop detailed requirements
• Phase 2 – Create map information components. The map components and descriptive text represent renewable energy resources
• Phase 3 – Assemble renewable resource maps and documents into a publication

Mr. Skiles then led a discussion regarding the proposed deliverables. These deliverables would include:

• Maps of solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and small hydro resources
• Mapping project focus (GDA)
• Potential Generation Development Areas, including, but not limited to, wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, biofuel, ethanol, and geothermal resources.
• Potential use of enterprise zones in the development of renewable resource generation development areas
• Existing Transmission
• Existing Generation
• Transmission of the renewable resource generation development areas. Connection to locations in which customers can use the renewable resources
• Overlay of socio-economic data
• Analytical documents to support proposed GDAs
• Online access to the finished maps
• Suggestions for further study

Mr. Skiles then led a discussion regarding minimum data resource requirements, including:

• Electric utility service territories
• Location and size of existing generation and transmission facilities, with available capacity
• Existing and planned renewable resource projects
• Enterprise zones
• GDA socio-economic data (e.g. manpower resources)
• Policy overlays (such as renewable energy incentives offered by taxing authorities and utilities)
• Where a strong resource exists, distribution and substation level data

Donna Heimiller, NREL, then presented an example of a GIS economics analysis. She presented information on the payback for photovoltaics and solar domestic hot water systems. This was well-received by the Work Group, and they encouraged her to continue to consider ways to develop economic analyses for the SB91 work.

Donna Heimiller, NREL, then presented a review of NREL’s screening analysis. This too was well received, and will be useful in the development our GDA maps.

Morey Wolfson then concluded the meeting with a discussion of the general scope of the work, appealing to the TF to provide Dave Skiles dave@skiles.mobi with data to meet our requirements.

He then summarized a few suggestions that had been offered for further study, including whether the TF should:

• investigate energy storage
• meet with the Department of Homeland Security for guidance on how specific our maps can be
• obtain a better understanding of what Enterprise Zones can do for renewable energy
• attach specificity on capacity credit when determining the strength of different renewable resources

He then described plans to interact with the Office of Economic Development and International Trade and others in and out of State government to request that the project receives the necessary data and help to analyze the data.

He then announced the next TF Meeting, which will be held on Monday, September 10 at 1:30 p.m., at the Colorado State Capitol Basement Hearing Room 0112.

He then announced that the next TF Work Group Meeting, that will be held on Tuesday, September 18, 1:30 p.m., at NREL, Building 17.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:45

Respectfully submitted by Morey Wolfson, GEO Utilities Program Manager