Statement of Geo-Energy Partners

On February 14, 2003, Geo-Energy Partners filed a statement in this proceeding that requested two things:⁵ (1) that Geo-Energy Partners be allowed to participate in this proceeding as a party and present evidence, and (2) that the Commission address two specific transmission line upgrade projects by requiring Southern California Edison Company to study these upgrades as part of this proceeding.

I am treating the first request as a Motion To Intervene (Motion) in this proceeding. As described in the February 14, 2003 filing, Geo-Energy Partners has been a member of the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and active in the geothermal resources industry for 19 years. Geo-Energy Partners has a clear interest in transmission issues related to the development of those resources, and should be allowed to intervene in this proceeding. Therefore, I approve Geo-Energy Partners' first request.

As for the second request, however, I find that it is procedurally improper and beyond the scope of next phases of this proceeding, as defined in my January 29, 2003 ruling. In response to similar requests by other project developers, I directed the utilities to move forward without delay in responding to developers' requests for conceptual studies (including cost estimates) for transmission projects involving access to renewable resources.⁶ Geo-Energy Partners should review that ruling and contact the utilities regarding their recent solicitation letters to industry participants. The letters afford developers the opportunity to request and fund transmission studies for projects that they are interested in developing to address the renewables goals set forth in SB 1078.

IT IS RULED that:

1. The schedule for Phase 7 (SB 1038 Renewables Transmission Plan), as outlined in this ruling, is adopted.

2. The utilities and interested parties should comment on the Scope and Framework of the SB 1038 Renewables Transmission Study presented in Attachment 1. Comments are due 10 days from the date of this ruling, and replies are due five days thereafter.

3. Geo-Partners Energy's Motion to Intervene is approved.

4. All comments and filings required by this ruling shall be served

Dated February 26, 2003, at San Francisco, California.

		/s/ MEG S. GOTTSTEIN
		Meg S. Gottstein Administrative Law Judge

CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION

1516 NINTH STREET

SACRAMENTO, CA 95814-5512

ATTACHMENT 1

Page 1

January 29, 2003

The Honorable Meg Gottstein

California Public Utilities Commission

505 Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

⁵ See Statement of Geo-Energy Parters-1983 LTD on Transmission Constraints for Selected New Renewable Power Projects Serving Calfornia Electric Supply.

⁶ See Administrative Law Judge's Ruling and Notice of Evidentiary Hearings on Tehachapi Transmission Project, January 29, 2003, pp. 6-9.