[20210908]IN11743_西部地区新型输电组织的展望.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Prospect of a New Western Regional Transmission Organization September 8, 2021 Electric power systems in many western states are under stress with wildfires, persistent drought, and heat waves presenting challenges to reliability, with some seeing climate change as a driver of the Wests extreme weather. The growth of population in the region also is increasing demand for electric power, set against the increasing use of renewable sources of electricity and retirements of coal-fired and nuclear power plants in the region. California has set a goal of 60% renewable energy by 2030 in its renewable portfolio standard (RPS). Californias is not the only clean energy plan in the region; Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon are among the states with RPS requirements for their retail utilities to obtain renewable electricity. The demand for electricity in California has dominated energy issues in the West for many years, with California utilities reaching out to the Pacific Northwest and neighboring states when needed to import more electricity. But the continuing western drought, combined with recurr