Summary of key findings
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The majority of the area needs were described and addressed in the Zone 2 – 2011 study results section,
- The potential for the Kinross load addition in the eastern U.P. may necessitate the need for system reinforcements, and
- Further reinforcement of the Munising/Newberry area may be required in the 2016 timeframe.
A new transmission-distribution interconnection, referred to as the Kinross load, was proposed for a 25-megawatt load addition in Chippewa County south of Sault Ste. Marie. This load represents a significant addition to the existing load in the Sault Ste. Marie area, and creates a sudden change in the load, generation, and transmission balance in the eastern U.P. Due to the uncertainty of the timeline of this potential load addition, ATC devised a plan to reinforce the eastern U.P. regardless if this load materializes.
Eastern U.P additions if Kinross load does not materialize
If the Kinross transmission-distribution load does not materialize, the following projects will be constructed:
- Rebuild Straits-Pine River lines 6904/5 for 138 kV and operate at 69 kV (2014), and
- Uprate Pine River-Nine Mile 69-kV line 6923 to 167 degrees F (2016).
These projects will be required to reinforce the eastern U.P. by improving the voltage profile and eliminating thermal limitations during this timeframe.
Eastern U.P additions if Kinross load materializes
If the Kinross transmission-distribution load does materialize, the following projects will be constructed. Several in-service dates are to be determined (TBD) and will depend upon the in-service date of the potential Kinross addition:
- Rebuild Straits-Pine River lines 6904/5 for 138 kV and operate at 69 kV (2014),
- Convert Straits-Pine River lines 6904/5 to 138 kV (2014),
- Construct/convert Pine River-Nine Mile 138/69-kV double-circuit line (2014),
- Install 138/69-kV 150 MVA transformer at Nine Mile (2014),
- Install 138/69-kV 150 MVA transformer at Pine River (2014), and
- Construct a line from Kinross load to Pine River/Nine Mile 69-kV line (2014).
If the Kinross load does materialize, these projects will be required to support the new interconnection and will also reinforce the eastern U.P. by improving voltage profile and eliminating thermal limitations in this timeframe. It should be noted that the costs reflected in our Assessment depict the capital cost of projects if the Kinross load materializes.
A provisional project to construct a second Gwinn-Forsyth 69-kV line (TBD in-service date) would further reinforce the Munising/Newberry area. Further study is ongoing to determine the best timeframe for implementation of this project.
Several projects were identified as near term solutions for the U.P. The solutions for the eastern U.P., Munising/Newberry and Escanaba areas for the years 2011-2015 are outlined in the Zone 2 – 2011 study results section.
These solutions are presented fully in the ATC Energy Collaborative - Michigan section. This section presents a Strategic Flexibility approach to the multiple factors emerging across the U.P.
Projects whose “Need date” precedes the “In-service date”
None
Projects whose “In-service date” precedes the “Need date”
None
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