West Needs Significant Transmission Upgrades by 2035, WestTEC Study S…

10-Year Horizon Report Identifies More than 12,600 Miles of Projects to Respond to Changing Needs of Western Grid

PORTLAND, Ore. – The West needs more than 12,600 miles of high-voltage transmission additions or upgrades to meet the region’s forecasted energy needs by 2035, according to the results of the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) 10-Year Horizon Study, released today.

The 10-Year Horizon Study took a holistic view of the needs of the West to identify actionable transmissi…

WestTEC 10-Year Study FAQs

Background 

What is WestTEC? 

WestTEC is an unprecedented partnership among diverse sectors of the energy industry, States and Tribes, environmental groups and project developers, that is focused on addressing urgent interregional transmission needs across the Western states. It is facilitated by the Western Power Pool and supported by independent industry consultants.   

Why is this planning process urgently needed? 

Electricity demand in the West is growing rapidly today,…

WestTEC: A New Approach to Transmission Planning in the West

The Western U.S. is facing challenges to its energy infrastructure, including an aging transmission system and the need for reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions. In response, the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) is leading an industry effort to develop a 10- and 20-year transmission plan for the region by engaging stakeholders and fostering collaboration. WestTEC is committed to transparency and aims to address the region’s future transmission needs through t…

WestTEC Selects Members of REC, Filling Final Piece of Organizationa…

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Western Transmission Expansion Coalition, or WestTEC, has completed a major milestone in its organizational structure by selecting the members of its Regional Engagement Committee, or REC.

The REC is WestTEC’s primary stakeholder engagement group. It is responsible for reviewing proposals, scopes of work for technical studies and other deliverables, and for providing feedback and recommendations to the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is WestTEC&rsq…

Posted Comments for the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition Conc…

The Western Power Pool posted a paper on October 2, 2023, outlining a proposed concept for a West-wide effort to develop an actionable transmission plan to support the needs of the future energy grid. The effort is referred to as the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WTEC). Comments were due October 31 and several sets of comments were received. These are now posted in our document library, accessible via the links below. A dedicated WTEC section of our site has been added and is availa…