Minimum Separation Distance Between High

Voltage Transmission Lines

Presented to:
Environment, Energy Security & Sustainability Symposium

June 17, 2010

Denver, Colorado

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Introduction
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Presentation Content
Background for Study
Connecting Supply and Demand
Relevance to Conference

Study Goals and Limitations

Transmission Export Lines and Hubs
Conclusions

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Background for Study

Wyoming has abundant supply of wind

Other States have demand (RPS) for renewable energy

Wyomings transmission system is limited

Multiple transmission export lines are proposed

No prescribed minimum separation distance between

transmission lines leads to questions about reliability,
energy security, and environmental impacts

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Abundant Wind Resources = Supply

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Wyoming: 1st in Wind Speed (Class 6 &7)

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Renewable Portfolio Standards Drive Demand

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Load Centers and Projected Peak Growth with Existing

Transmission Capacity

Source: Renewable Energy Atlas of the West.

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Transmission Projects Proposed in Wyoming to

Transfer Abundant Supply to Distant Load Centers

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Proposed Transmission Export Lines Capacity

Transmission Project

Capacity
(Megawatts)

Gateway South (PacifiCorp)

1,500

Gateway West (PacifiCorp)

1,500

Overland Intertie (LS Power Development, LLC)

2,000

Wyoming-Colorado Intertie (LS Power Development, LLC)

900

Trans West Express (Anschutz Corporation)

3,000

Zephyr (TransCanada)

3,000
Total

11,900

NOTE: Capacities are based on thermal ratings and do not represent simultaneous system rating. Capacity for each project
provided by transmission proponents. Capacities are representative values which may change based on final path rating.

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Separation Distance How Much is

Enough?

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Separation Distance and Reliability Example

Dependent Factors (19-24%)
Lightning
High Winds
Tornadoes
Storms (ice/hail/snow)
Fire
Independent Factors (75-81%)
Human error
Equipment failure
Sabotage
Vegetation
Other Misc.
Unknown

Photo credit: Darrell Gerrard, PacifiCorp

WECC 2006-2007 outages for 500600-kV

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Separation Distance: Reliability Vs.

Costs/Impacts

Line de-rating risk

Installation/Maintenance Cost

Future need for new

transmission

Environmental Permitting Time

Ease of adherence to
environmental and
land-use constraints

Visual Impact Concern

Public Opposition

Need for Remedial

Action Scheme

Line Separation Distance

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Example Minimum Separation Distances1 (feet)

for Typical 500-kV Transmission Lines

Invalid without application of associated assumptions and mitigation

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Thank You
Study funded by: Wyoming Infrastructure
Authority, Steve Ellenbecker Executive Director
(www.wyia.org)
Report available online: www.icfi.com/collector
Authors: Robert J. Henke, Judah Rose, Ken Collison, Venkat Banunarayanan,
Kiran Kumaraswamy, Casey Jacobson, Nishit Pande

Point of Contact: Robert J. Henke

ICF International
303-792-7810
rhenke@icfi.com
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