Creating a regional electricity grid would save money and allow for integration of more renewables, according to a new report.
Earlier this year, PacifiCorp, which provides electricity to a handful of western states like Wyoming, Utah and Oregon, announced that it was looking at merging its grid with California’s. Now, the company has come out with a report showing that could result in savings for the whole region.
Integrating the grid would definitely benefit California. That state has a 50 percent renewable energy goal by 2030. Being able to draw on resources like Wyoming’s wind and Utah’s solar would help keep the state’s grid stable without lots of expensive back-up generators.
The report finds PacifiCorp’s customers would also benefit, with estimated savings of around $2 billion over 20 years.
With the results of the study, both utilities say they are moving forward with more detailed analysis of what would be required to integrate the grids. Before anything can happen, regulators in all six of the states where PacifiCorp operates, as well as California, would have to approve the deal.
