Why It Matters

Southwest Power Pool Inc. signed a new client registration on Nov. 5 with Williams & Jensen PLLC, putting Southwest Power Pool lobbying on the federal record under the Energy/Nuclear and Utilities issue areas. The filing lists one specific issue, "Southwest Power Pool's Market Initiative," and carries a $0 filing amount and no bills. ​

The registration lists three Williams & Jensen lobbyists: Chester Fields, George Baker and Dan Ziegler. It reports a registration date of Oct. 1. The filing lists Fields with experience in the office of Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Broader Context

Recent federal energy activity involving Southwest Power Pool (SPP) bears on the registered issue areas, according to the sources below.

  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accepted SPP's proposal for new study processes for High Impact Large Loads on Jan. 15.
  • SPP reported on March 13 that FERC approved its Consolidated Planning Process, which SPP said is intended to give developers more cost certainty.
  • SPP and the California Independent System Operator filed a joint report with FERC on Oct. 1 on near-term work on data exchange, model alignment and transmission constraints.

The U.S. Department of Energy issued orders on July 26 and Aug. 3 under Federal Power Act section 202(c) directing SPP to dispatch specified generation, according to the department.

Between The Lines

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) issued a press release on Oct. 6 praising a Department of Energy order directing Southwest Power Pool to keep the Craig Unit 1 coal plant available through Dec. 25. The release frames the order as necessary for grid reliability and baseload power.

At a July 22 Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Judy Chang of FERC said the commission recently approved an SPP proposal that gives generators cost certainty on interconnection. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) asked what steps FERC will take to ensure states like Wyoming have a meaningful voice as SPP expands into the West.

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Competitive Landscape

Two other organizations registered through other firms on both issue areas: Treaty Oak Clean Energy LLC signed with Continental Strategy LLC on Nov. 4, and PPC North America Corp. signed with Capitol Counsel LLC on Oct. 28. ON Energy Storage Inc. signed with Venn Strategies LLC on Nov. 5 on utilities.

The Bottom Line

The registration puts a three-person Williams & Jensen team on record for the grid operator's market initiative before federal offices. It names no bills.

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