The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) has formed a multi-constituency stakeholder group to advise WECC on regional transmission expansion planning in the Western Interconnection. This Scenario Planning Steering Group (SPSG) is a key component of WECC’s Regional Transmission Expansion Planning (RTEP) project and is funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The SPSG includes representation from stakeholders not previously involved in regional transmission planning activities including advocates for consumers, technology, land use, wildlife, and the environment, as well as other interests. span>"The incorporation of new stakeholder perspectives into WECC’s planning activities will greatly enhance the resulting regional transmission plans,” said Louise McCarren, WECC chief executive officer. “The transmission planning scenarios developed by the SPSG will provide broad insight into issues that transmission planners and developers, as well as public policy officials, need to address to ensure continued electric grid reliability.” The SPSG will hold its first meeting on March 26, 2010 to begin providing direction on WECC’s 2010 transmission planning activities. Future meetings this year will focus on scenario development of transmission planning studies for 2011 that will incorporate varied perspectives and interests of the SPSG members.   

SPSG Members