Southwest states expected to share renewable power

Arizona and the rest of the Southwest likely will be sharing a lot of renewable power slated to come online in the next 15 years, requiring more interstate transmission lines and cooperation among states.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, there are opportunities for states to share geothermal, solar and wind energy, creating a mix that will provide stability to the interstate power grid.

“Each state has the ability to be an importer and an exporter” of renewable power, said David Hurlbut, senior analyst for the Market and Policy Impact Analysis Group at NREL’s Strategic Energy Analysis Center.

Hurlbut presented the analysis to regulators, utilities and transmission line construction companies at the Southwest Renewable Energy Transmission Conference in late May. It shows that each state will sell its developable resources to other states. The transmission factor will come into play as more renewable plants come online.

Arizona, which will draw heavily on solar for its peak loads, likely will have to rely on geothermal power from California and Nevada and wind from New Mexico to meet its needs at night. Interconnections with other states also will make exporting more power easier, Hurlbut said.

Read the full story in the Phoenix Business Journal.