Oncor files to help build renewable energy superhighway
“At Oncor we want to be an important part of the solution,” said Charles Jenkins, Oncor Senior Vice President of Transmission and System Operations. “Texas is already a leader in wind energy and this is the next step in maintaining that leadership position. Oncor has demonstrated over the decades that we can work with the state and local communities to build some of the most reliable transmission lines at some of the lowest cost, which is what Texas electric consumers deserve.”
Just recently the Commission gave initial approval for the construction of approximately $5 billion in transmission facilities to bring wind energy from West Texas to the central part of the state to provide more renewable energy.
Environmentalists and renewable energy supporters hailed the decision as one of the most significant orders in the nation. With the transmission lines in place, thousands more wind turbines can be built, more than doubling the stateÂ’s renewable energy capacity.
The Commission called for filings indicating which portion of the CREZ plan would be constructed by transmission providers. Oncor submitted its filing together with Electric Transmission Texas (ETT), AEP Texas Central Company (TCC), AEP Texas North Company (TNC), the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Service Corp. (LCRA) and Sharyland Utilities, LP. These transmission providers joined together in the filing offering to build, operate and maintain all of the CREZ transmission facilities.
The parties propose a comprehensive, coordinated approach for the prompt development of the CREZ transmission plan. At the time of the CommissionÂ’s order, the PUCT encouraged transmission parties to work together to help ensure timely development of transmission facilities to support wind generation. The joint filing is an important step in meeting that request and would help expedite when the transmission lines would be in place to be used.
In a joint filing by the transmission providers, they declare support for the development of expanded transmission for wind energy as good public policy and will work with stakeholders throughout the CREZ process.
Oncor proposes to utilize its substantial resources and capabilities in order to build at least 1,000 miles of transmission lines and facilities in and around OncorÂ’s service territory, which Oncor estimates will require it to invest more than $2 billion.
Related News

A new approach finds materials that can turn waste heat into electricity
LONDON - The need to transition to clean energy is apparent, urgent and inescapable. We must limit Earth’s rising temperature to within 1.5 C to avoid the worst effects of climate change — an especially daunting challenge in the face of the steadily increasing global demand for energy.
Part of the answer is using energy more efficiently. More than 72 per cent of all energy produced worldwide is lost in the form of heat. For example, the engine in a car uses only about 30 per cent of the gasoline it burns to move the car. The remainder is dissipated as…