FEDS FASTTRACK WIRES FOR THE WEST

Obama Administration Says It Will Speed Approval Of Transmission Lines
Ryan Tracy and Cassandra Sweet, October 7, 2011 (Dow Jones Newswires via Nasdaq)

"The Obama administration…[will] speed federal approval of seven proposed electric transmission projects in 12 states--together estimated to cost more than $8.5 billion--in an effort to spur infrastructure spending and modernize the U.S. grid…[The] pilot effort involving nine federal agencies [and coordinated by the Interior Department, the lead federal agency for approving such projects will]...look to coordinate permits and more quickly resolve disputes that can hold up the process...[T]he projects will increase grid capacity and together…[will] create more than 10,000 construction jobs in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Wisconsin..."

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"The projects that will be fast-tracked for permitting include the $1.2 billion, 145-mile Susquehanna-Roseland transmission project, being developed by Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) and PPL Corp. (PPL)…[A] $3 billion, 600-kilovolt transmission line called TransWest Express…Gateway West project, being developed by Idacorp Inc.'s (IDA) Idaho Power unit and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKA, BRKB) unit Rocky Mountain Power…[T]he $450 million, 300-mile Boardman-Hemingway transmission line…"

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"…[Also] the $825 million, 500- kilovolt Cascade Crossing project being developed by Portland General Electric Co. (POR)…[T]he 460-mile SunZia project, estimated to cost up to $920 million…being developed by UniSource Energy Corp.'s (UNS) Tucson Electric Power unit, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Royal Dutch Shell PLC's (RDSA.LN, RDSB.LN, RDSA, RDSB) WindEnergy unit and Salt River Project, an Arizona public utility district…[and] the $490 million, 150-mile Hampton-Rochester-La Crosse transmission project…a series of transmission lines being developed by 11 utilities including Allete Inc.'s (ALE) Minnesota Power unit and Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL), which is the project manager…"