Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line Project

Dave Van House Minnesota Power

Description & Overview

220 mile 345,000 volt electric transmission line Approved by the Minnesota and Wisconsin regulators in 2001 Construction Began in Minnesota February 2004 Construction to Begin in Wisconsin Fall 2004 Construction scheduled to be completed in 2008

Why was it proposed?

Reliability!!
Improves Regional System Security

Provides Maintenance & Operational Flexibility Allows Customers Greater Access to Generation Sources

Intertie Capacity vs Energy Usage by State

700
Per Unit Intertie Capacity (kVA/GWh)

600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Wisconsin Minnesota Iowa

1 Illinois Nebraska S. Dakota N. Dakota

Rank Last

Minnesota

Minnesotas electric network is tied to neighboring states. If Wisconsin has a problem, Minnesota has a problem. Minnesota Power customers have been knocked off line by electric system disturbances related to the weak MinnesotaWisconsin connection.

www.powerupwisconsin.com

Recent Regional Problems

June 11, 1997 June 25, 1998 June 10, 1999

IMPACT OF June 25, 1998 DISTURBANCE

IN MAPP
60+ TRANSMISSION LINES TRIPPED 4,000+ MW OF GENERATION LOST More Than 39,000+ CUSTOMERS AFFECTED

IN NW ONTARIO
BLACK OUT TO 113,000 CUSTOMERS 650 MW OF LOAD LOST 270 MW OF Generation Lost

Wisconsin Actions

1997 events raise concerns about electric supply reliability in Wisconsin Wisconsin utilities and regulators form Wisconsin Reliability Assessment Organization (WRAO) WRAO forms engineering group to study alternatives - WIRES group

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

DETAILED POWER FLOWS SIMULATION GENERATOR RESPONSE DYNAMIC STABILITY VOLTAGE STABILITY IMPACT ON MAPP

CONSTRUCTION COSTS
LOSS EVALUATION

Power Flow Analysis

Reactive Voltage Support Requirements

Steady State Maximum Transfer capability

Sensitivity to Modeling Assumptions

Transmission System Loss Analysis

Generator Response

Mechanical Stress on Weston Generator Shaft

Large Phase Angle Across MAPP MAIN Interface Eau Claire Arpin Line Switching

Instanteous change in Power output

Dynamic Stability

Ability of Systems Generators to remain synchronized and recover from Major System Disturbance

MAPP WUMS Disturbances Loss of New Facilities Impact on Existing Limiting Conditions Dynamic Reactive Support Requirements

Voltage Stability

Ability of the System to Maintain Adequate Voltage Following a Disturbance Without Adequate Voltage Support System can Experience
Increased Current Demand (P = VI) Slowly Declining Voltage Loss of Voltage Sensitive Loads Voltage Collapse

Engineering to Support Permitting

Calculation of;
AUDIBLE NOISE ELECTRIC FIELD MAGNETIC FIELD

Analysis of Potential Farm Impacts

Stray Voltage Earth Currents

EMF Issues

Magnetic Field Electric Field Spark Discharge Multiple Routes Multiple Structures Multiple Circuits Multiple Flows Future Years

Transmission Line Noise

Due to Corona Discharge

Electric Field at surface of the conductor exceeds the breakdown strength of air Generates light, audible noise radio noise and energy losses

Mitigation
Increase Conductor Surface area

Larger Conductors Multiple conductors

Substation Noise Monitoring

Long Term Short Term Existing Equipment

Impact of Additions

Arrowhead Substation Noise

Other Engineering Issues

Differential GPS Interference (Precision Farming)

Electric & Magnetic Field
Impacts on Pacemakers and implantable Defibulators Impacts on Railroad, Pipeline and AM Radio Transmitter sites

Opposition to the project:

Save Our Unique Lands Citizens Utility Board Wisconsin Environmental Decade North American Water Office Hillside Dairy World Organization of Landowner Freedom

Common Utility Corridor

Visual Impact Of Crossing

Existing 161 kV H-Frame

954 ACSR 2-Conductor Bundle with Shield Wire

Single 3M Composite Conductor

Post Permit Studies

Equipment Specification
Construction Support Analysis Operating studies

Equipment Specifications

Transient studies
Breaker Switching Duties

Shunt Reactor Shunt Capacitor 345 & 230 kV line breakers Voltage Magnification Surge Arrester rating & placement Equipment BIL requirements Line Insulation

Capacitor Bank Switching Issues

Insulation Coordination

Construction Impact Studies

Constructability Line outage concerns Maintenance issues Ownership Issues Increased Cost Landowner Opposition

Operating Studies

Determination of Operating Limits

Reactive Support Requirements

Shunt Capacitor location optimization

Line Loadability Issues

System Intact and Post Contingency

Line load sharing optimization Post Contingency requirements System Intact and Post Contingency

Phase Shifter Requirements New Flow-Gate Limits

Summary

Operating experience has shown there is a significant risk to electrical reliability in the upper Midwest and Wisconsin

Engineering study commissioned through Assembly Act 204 WRAO recommendation Arrowhead Weston 345 kV Line

Summary

The Arrowhead-Weston Project will substantially alleviate the reliability problems being experienced due to the weak electrical tie between the upper Midwest and Wisconsin.
It will also provide import capability for Wisconsin to meet its emergency power supply requirements.