To get wind energy to market, we must remove physical "bottlenecks" in the high voltage transmission system and construct new transmission. There are key barriers between the windiest areas and the demand centers in the upper Midwest. Existing transmission corridors are largely congested already, even before expanded wind energy capacity is introduced.

Since building new transmission lines is often controversial, Wind on the Wires will focus first on identifying the highest priority transmission upgrades.

Longer term, the transmission grid will need to be expanded to allow a significant amount of new wind power to be transported to market.

Downloadable Documents and Links

May 18 , 2010
Establishing a Fair and Competitive Cost-Allocation Method for Transmission Investment
The Midwest Independent System Operator (Midwest ISO) has released a new draft proposal for allocating costs for electricity transmission lines in the Midwest. The proposal comes after more than a year of negotiation among transmission owners, state regulators, utilities, generation developers, power marketers, environmental organizations and other stakeholders. While the Midwest ISO proposal purports to support Midwest wind development and public policy, Wind on the Wires still has strong concerns, many of which are shared by a number of wind industry stakeholders.

As the Midwest ISO considers how to allocate the costs for new transmission lines, the economic development, jobs, and tax revenue that wind development brings to communities could well hang in the balance. Midwest wind power will also play an important role in making the nation more energy independent and secure, yet limited capacity on the existing transmission grid and uncertainty over the economics of expanding the grid has sharply curtailed development of the Midwest's emerging wind power industry.

The new draft proposal from the Midwest ISO fails to address many of the original concerns relating to wind power, which were outlined in a series of letters over the past year. The concerns include prohibitive transmission costs for new wind development that create a competitive disadvantage for the Midwest as compared to other regions of the country, and lack of a clear transition process between the old cost allocation method and new method for emerging wind energy projects.

An informal survey of Wind on the Wires member wind developers revealed that companies will be forced to take a hard look at development plans in the Midwest if the Midwest ISO fails to adopt a favorable cost allocation policy.

In addition to the economic concerns, the eventual success or failure of the renewable energy goals outlined by the regional Midwest Governors’ Agreement and in individual states could hinge on how the issue of transmission costs is eventually settled.

Below are some of the recent comment letters Wind on the Wires submitted to MISO on three competing proposals for transmission investment:

1. May 19 – WOW Response to Latest MISO Proposal for Cost-Allocation (RECB III)

2. April 27 – WOW response to revised Cost Allocation Recovery Process proposal

3. April 15- Cover letter and general principles related to WOW response to MISO Injection-Withdrawal proposal and Transmission Owners Cost Allocation proposal

4. April 15 – In-depth comments of Wind on the Wires Regarding the MISO Injection-Withdrawal and Transmission Owners Cost Allocation proposals

5. March 23 - Wind on the Wires Initial Comments on the Midwest ISO Transmission Owners’ Cost Allocation Framework

6. March 22 - Wind on the Wires Initial Comments on the Midwest ISO’s Injection-Withdrawal Proposal

August 2008
MISO Interconnection Queue Process
Link to MISO's website for the latest information on the MISO Generator Interconnection Queue Process, FERC Order on Queue Reform, and new procedures for transition of projects currently in the queue.

Attached Link and PDF
1. MISO Interconnection Queue Process
2. AWEA / WOW Joint Q Reform comments filed at FERC on 7-17-08

April 2008
Renewable Resources - Integration Challenges and Opportunities
Matthew Schuerger, PE, Energy Systems Consulting Services, White Paper on wind power
and wind integration prepared for the Midwest ISO Annual Stakeholder Meeting on April 16, 2008.

Attached PDF
1. Matt Schuerger, Energy Systems Consulting Renewables Integration

Spring 2008
MISO Regional Generation Outlet Study
As the study progresses, MISO will be adding more documents to this folder.
Follow the link below to check out the latest developments.

Attached Link
1. MISO Regional Generation Outlet Study

Summer 2008
MISO Transmission Expansion Process (MTEP)
Link to the latest information on the MISO transmission planning processes underway.

Attached Link
1. MISO Transmission Expansion Process

Spring 2008
MISO Queue Reform
Follow the link to the latest information on the MISO Queue reform process.

Attached Link
1. MISO Queue Reform

June 2008
Joint & Coordinated System Plan (JCSP)
Link to workshop materials on MISO website.

Attached Link
1. Joint & Coordinated System Plan

May 2006
Utility Wind Integration - State of the Art
Prepared by Utility WInd Integration Group (UWIG) in cooperation with American
Public Power Association, Edison Electric Institute, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Attached PDF
1.UWIG Wind Integration May 2006

October 3, 2005 (Revised October 19, 2005)
Dakotas Wind Transmission Study - Summary of Tasks 1- 4
WAPA Wind Hydro Study. Submitted by: ABB, Inc., Electrical Systems Consulting

Attached PDF
1. Study Summary - Revised