By Deb Murphy
The time limit on the interconnection request for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s solar ranch east of Manzanar expired. As a result the project lost its spot in line to hook up to LADWP’s Inyo-Rinaldi Transmission Line.
Before the withdrawal on March 12, the Southern Owens Valley Solar Ranch was ninth on the Priority Queue List. The Northland Power project, located near Independence, was withdrawn from its 20th position on the list on April 1.
According to LADWP’s Hope Street Public Information Office, the request time line expired “while DWP worked with the community on interests and options on SOVSR and examined a variety of alternatives for the project (size, specific locations, etc.)”
The statement adds “LADWP will continue to examine the viability of this renewable project and many others, especially in light of the new state goals of 50 percent renewables by 2030 (the former state goal was 40 percent….)”
The Large Generator Interconnection Procedure, a 123-page document that contains the rules and studies required for renewable energy projects wishing to gain access to LADWP’s transmission lines, indicates that withdrawal “shall result in the loss of Interconnection Customer’s Queue Position.”
There are still unanswered questions, the primary one being “is the SOVSR officially dead?”
The following is a response to questions submitted from Amanda Parsons ,Senior Public Relations Representative : Yes, The SOVSRP was the ninth position on the queue. The “particular rules” are the provisions of the LGIP. The ‘time limits” are as provided for in the LGIP. In general ,an interconnection customer… Read more »
The true significance of the recent announcement of the withdrawals by Northland and LADWP from the transmission queue list is that the County’s new REGPA regulations are already having an impact at least with respect to Northland Power, which cited the recent Board of Supervisors’ actions as one of several… Read more »
The LADWP SOVSRP can not Interconnect to the Inyo-Rinaldi Transmission Line if there is no available capacity . As of the start of construction the Beacon Solar Project 250 Mega Watts has taken up the capacity. Beacon will be completed probably before the Barren Ridge Section of the Transmission Line… Read more »
Good explanation Philip. The expiration on the transmission queue might portend an end to the SOVSR project, but it clearly does not emphatically do so. Unless we hear in clear and unambiguous language from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that the project is being abandoned, no one… Read more »
The importance of our local media and news reporters somehow get little credit for the Community response to the SOVSRP. Not acknowledging them, assigning to them due credit in the previous post for their part in all the issues of the SOVSRP is a typical, take for granted, lame attitude… Read more »
The Generation Interconnection Priority Queue List is on the LADWP www,oatioasis.com/ldwp/ website . You need to choose the “Generation Interconnection” link which pulls up the Queue list spread sheet , the LGIA ( Large Generation Interconnection Agreement, and the LGIP ( Large Generation Interconnection Procedures) The terminology and the Regs… Read more »