As promised, the Western Area Power Administration issued a request for statements of interest in transmission projects with at least one terminus lying in its multi-state service territory. Based on statements it receives, Western plans to develop a blueprint for allocating $3.25 billion authorized in the recent economic stimulus legislation. It plans to spend the money, which it can borrow from the Treasury, to build new transmission facilities that help deliver renewable energy throughout the West (Circuit, Feb. 27, 2009). The Colorado-based power marketing arm of the U.S. Department of Energy wants to receive statements of interest and public comments by April 3 to help develop the transmission plan. To facilitate that, it has slated a March 23 public meeting in Lakewood, Colorado. Western said it is seeking projects in which it can participate on a number of levels, from financing to ownership, operation, and maintenance. Projects must be financially viable enough to enable it to repay loans drawn from the Treasury, the administration said. Western owns and operates 17,000 miles of transmission lines in 15 states, including California.
