News Release
Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study
9/29/2004
Chuck Butler
406-444-5523
cbutler@state.mt.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 20, 2004
Contacts:
Lara Azar, Office of Gov. Dave Freudenthal (307) 777-7437
Amanda Covington, Office of Gov. Olene Walker (801) 538-1503
Karen Deike, Western Governors' Association (303) 623-9378
DENVER -- The Rocky Mountain Area Transmission Study (RMATS), initiated by the governors of Utah and Wyoming one year ago, will release its recommendations for expanding transmission lines and next steps for moving forward when it meets Sept. 29 in Salt Lake City.
Govs. Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.), Olene Walker (Utah) and Judy Martz (Mont.) will attend and have invited all interested stakeholders to participate. Nora Brownell, Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is also expected to attend.
"The RMATS group has identified the actual projects which appear likely to be the most cost-effective additions to transmission and generation in the Rocky Mountain West," the governors said in a letter announcing the meeting.
"We endorse the process and its results, and continue to believe that the collaboration sponsored by RMATS will provide the framework for the increased success of the Western interconnection and provide economic and environmental benefits to our states. This report is just a beginning; the group is identifying next steps to having the needed projects actually built."
The year-long study involved a broad range of stakeholders drawn from utilities, industry, federal and state regulators, customers, environmental groups, project developers and consumer advocates.
Sub-regional transmission planning is supported by the Western Governors' Association as part of its overall energy policy and clean-energy initiative. A primary goal of the RMATS effort is to make greater use of the region's coal and wind resources, reduce the volatility of electricity prices and lower power costs to consumers.
The RMATS meeting will be held at the Downtown Marriott in Salt Lake City, beginning at 9 a.m. Attendees will hear reports on the study results, recommendations and next steps. The modeling team also will discuss its inputs and assumptions and will be available to answer questions. Copies of the final reports will be provided.
The RMATS Web site can be accessed from the Wyoming Energy Commission's home page, at
