2019-14445. Application To Export Electric Energy; ALEL Technologies LLC

AGENCY:

Office of Electricity, Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION:

Notice of application.

SUMMARY:

ALEL Technologies LLC (Applicant or ALEL) has applied for authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

DATES:

Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before August 7, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for more information should be addressed to: Office of Electricity, 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:

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

On June 24, 2019, DOE received an application from ALEL for authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico as a power marketer for a five-year term using existing international transmission facilities. The Applicant states that it will make wholesale purchases in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the California Independent System Operator, and possibly in other geographic regions and energy markets in the United States as well.

The Application states that “[N]either ALEL, nor its owner, owns, operates or controls any electric generation, transmission or distribution facilities,” that neither “has a franchised service area,” and that ALEL has no “obligation to serve native load within a franchised service area.” The electric energy that the Applicant proposes to export to Mexico over international electric transmission facilities would be surplus energy purchased from third parties such as electric utilities and Federal power marketing agencies pursuant to voluntary agreements. The existing international transmission facilities to be utilized by the Applicant have previously been authorized by Presidential permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended, and are appropriate for open access transmission by third parties.

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 Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become a party to this proceeding should file a motion to intervene at the above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Five (5) 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 ALEL's application to export electric energy to Mexico should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. EA-476. An additional copy is to be provided directly to both Joaquin Leal Jimenez, ALEL Technologies LLC, 778 Boylston St, Unit 6B, Boston, MA 02199, and Antonio Peña, Greenberg Traurig, PA, 333 SE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33131.

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 DOE determines 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 website at http://energy.gov/​node/​11845,, or by emailing Angela Troy at [e-mail].

Signed in Washington, DC, on July 1, 2019.

Christopher Lawrence,

Management and Program Analyst, Transmission Permitting and Technical Assistance, Office of Electricity.