According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. electric energy industry comprises more than 7,000 power plants representing 1,151,812 megawatts of generation connected to more than 360,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. Understanding the basics of this industry, specifically transmission, interconnection, and grid fundamentals, is essential to implementing energy projects. Tribes looking to increase their knowledge about energy transmission will have an opportunity to learn from tribal energy and power industry experts at the Transmission and Grid Basics for Tribal Economic and Energy Development webinar on Wednesday, March 30.

Part of the 2016 Tribal Energy and Economic Development Webinar Series sponsored by the DOE Office of Indian Energy and the Western Area Power Administration (Western), the webinar will cover a wide range of topics, including transmission markets, management, and ownership structures; interconnection request processes and timelines; transmission planning and operations; and grid fundamentals.

Webinar speakers will include:

• Scott T. Clow, Environmental Programs Director at the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
• Kurt Daniel, System Power Dispatcher (Trainer) at Western
• Robert Easton, Vice President of Transmission Services at Western
• Tawnie Knight, Economic Development Specialist in the Economic Development Division at the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
• David Narang, Principal Engineer in the Power Systems Engineering Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Jon Steward, Transmission Business Unit Manager at Western.

The webinar is designed to provide tribes with the insight and information they need to make informed, strategic decisions as consumers, providers, and active participants in the new energy economy.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Register for the webinar.