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Energy Transmission Services
New and improved transmission infrastructure is essential for the continued development of U.S. renewable energy resources. However, the best generation resource areas are often remote from major load centers, as well as from the facilities that can provide the generation following and shaping services needed by intermittent generation. The necessary expansion of transmission lines thus raises difficult land acquisition, siting, environmental, regional planning, and cost allocation challenges. Experienced legal advice is needed to overcome these challenges.
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Our Lawyers Know Transmission
For over 25 years, the lawyers of Stoel Rives have worked with clients on devising solutions for their transmission facility development and contracting requirements. Clients include both utility and non-utility developers of high-voltage transmission lines, as well as parties contracting for the purchase and sale of interconnection and transmission services. We also assist generation project owners in securing interconnection and transmission services from the regional transmission organizations, as well as from utility providers of transmission services.
Our energy attorneys regularly monitor transmission policy developments at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as the various regional transmission organizations. We also actively participate in industry associations such as the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC) that focus on consumer research, outreach and best practices for utilities, suppliers and vendors. By staying informed, we help ensure that our clients get their new transmission lines constructed and access to transmission facilities secured on fair and reasonable terms.
How Stoel Rives Can Help
Depth in Experience
- Individual attorneys at Stoel Rives have 25 years or more experience in transmission law issues, dating back to the siting and construction of the Midpoint-Malin transmission line in the 1970s.
- We have extensively advised clients on environmental compliance issues, including Endangered Species Act, related to the operation of transmission lines.
- We currently assist both regulated utilities and independent transmission companies in the development of new transmission facilities.
- We also represent users of transmission services in the negotiation of Precedent Agreements, Interconnection Agreements, and Transmission Service Agreements.
- We were lead legal advisors in two separate initiatives to create a regional transmission association for the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West states.
Depth in Relationships
We place high importance on our relationships with necessary participants in the transmission area. These relationships include staffs at key regional transmission organizations, staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, staff of key transmission siting agencies, as well as key landowners, such as the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, environmental interest groups, and Indian Nations.
Depth in Knowledge about Transmission Operations
We have worked for decades with transmission providers and expert consultants, to acquire an understanding of how the transmission system actually works from the perspective of the transmission operator. This knowledge is invaluable when seeking to resolve interconnection and transmission problems faced by our clients.
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