2014-23091. Application To Export Electric Energy; Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC

AGENCY:

Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.

ACTION:

Notice of application.

SUMMARY:

Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC (Noble Solutions) has applied to renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

DATES:

Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before October 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for more information should be addressed to: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Mail Code: OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350. Because of delays in handling conventional mail, it is recommended that documents be transmitted by overnight mail, by electronic mail to [e-mail], or by facsimile to 202-586-8008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Exports of electricity from the United States to a foreign country are regulated by the Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).

On January 29, 2010, DOE issued Order No. EA-284-B to Sempra Energy Solutions, which authorized Sempra Energy Solutions to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico as a power marketer for a five-year term using existing international transmission facilities. That authority expires on January 29, 2015. On December 7, 2011, DOE issued Order No. EA-284-C, which recognized a change of name from Sempra Energy Solutions to Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC. All other terms and conditions of Order No. EA-284-B remain unchanged. On September 4, 2014, Noble Solutions filed an application with DOE for renewal of the export authority contained in Order No. EA-284-C for an additional five-year term.

In its application, Noble Solutions states that it does not own or operate any electric transmission facilities, and it does not have a franchised service area. The electric energy that Noble Solutions proposes to export to Mexico would be surplus energy purchased from third parties such as electric utilities and Federal power marketing agencies pursuant to voluntary agreements. The Applicant's request is limited to the transmission of power to Baja California, Mexico utilizing the 230-kV lines owned by San Diego Gas and Electric Company, which interconnects with the electrical system of Commission Federal de Electricidad, the Mexican electric utility.

Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this proceeding should file a comment or protest to the application at the address provided above. Protests should be filed in accordance with Rule 211 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become a party to these proceedings should file a motion to intervene at the above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Five copies of such comments, protests, or motions to intervene should be sent to the address provided above on or before the date listed above.

Comments and other filings concerning the Noble Solutions application to export electric energy to Mexico should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. EA-284-D. An additional copy is to be provided directly to Greg Bass, Noble Americas Energy Solutions LLC, 401 West A Street, Suite 500, San Diego, CA 92101.

A final decision will be made on this application after the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) and after a determination is made by DOE that the proposed action will not have an adverse impact on the sufficiency of supply or reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system.

Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, for public inspection and copying at the address provided above, by accessing the program Web site at http://energy.gov/​node/​11845,, or by emailing Angela Troy at [e-mail].

Issued in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2014.

Brian Mills,

Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.