U.S. Studying Swap of Power Between Northwest, Southwest
The U.S. Department of Energy is studying a plan that would swap power between dams in the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest at peak periods for the two regions.
The $1-billion plan calls for construction of an 815-mile transmission line from Oregon to Hoover Dam. It would also link Los Angeles and Phoenix through 240-mile spur lines running from the Mead substation near Hoover Dam.
The Western Area Power Administration wants to see whether five or six utilities would consider banding together to finance the project. Spokesman Tom Carter said that financing such a line could be much cheaper than building coal-fired power plants.
The Pacific intertie line could be completed by 1992, the Department of Energy said.
Under the plan, utilities in the Pacific Northwest would sell power generated during their slack summer season to utilities in the hot Southwest. Southwest utilities would then sell surplus power during their slack winter season to the Northwest utilities.
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