May 31, 2016 – Participating in three western events this month provided multiple opportunities for TransWest Express LLC to update elected officials and the public about the TransWest Express Transmission Project, an HVDC electric transmission line that will improve the resilience of the western regional power grid. Just over one year ago, the Bureau of Land Management and Western Area Power Administration published their jointly-prepared Final Environmental Impact Statement for the TWE Project, on April 30, 2015.
- Wyoming Energy Summit:
Together with Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, the Wyoming Business Report presented this one-day event on May 19 in Cheyenne. Among the selected presenters was TransWest CEO Bill Miller, who updated attendees about the project’s nearly-completed federal permitting status. Miller also described how the TWE Project will amplify Wyoming’s energy export capacity, help connect diverse renewable resources generated in the western U.S., and provide tax revenues and other economic benefits. The TWE Project represents an approximately $1 billion investment in Wyoming.
- Governor’s Utah Energy Development Summit: Five years strong, the Energy Summit is co-hosted by Utah Governor Gary Herbert and this year attracted about 1,000
attendees, May 24-25 in Salt Lake City. For the fifth consecutive year, TransWest Express LLC attended and sponsored the conference, as part of its support of responsible energy development in Utah. About 390 miles of the TWE Project will intersect Utah, with nearly 90% located on federal land or co-located with existing transmission lines, generating millions in new property tax revenues for the state. “This annual event continues to provide a collaborative platform for industry and government, while Utahns become more educated on development in the innovative energy sector,” said Governor Herbert.
- National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region Conference: Held May 25-27 in Jackson, Wyoming, the annual conference brings together county officials from 15 western states to focus on issues facing county governments. Throughout the TWE
Project’s federal environmental analysis process, TransWest has aimed to collaborate closely with counties to assure their participation in routing and siting decisions and to keep counties informed about its work. The agency preferred alternative route for the TWE Project – selected by BLM and WAPA – includes 14 counties in Wyoming (2), Colorado (1), Utah (9) and Nevada (2). NACo WIR was another opportunity for TransWest representatives to connect with and answer questions from county officials about the TWE Project and its local benefits, while also supporting the work of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association, which co-hosted the event.
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